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Hello, and welcome to today’s liveblog.
The teams are in…
MAN CITY: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Kolarov, Jesus Navas, Toure, Fernando, Milner, Aguero, Jovetic. Subs: Sagna, Nasri, Dzeko, Caballero, Clichy, Fernandinho, Boyata.
MAN UNITED: De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Rojo, Shaw, Blind, Fellaini, Januzaj, Di Maria, van Persie, Rooney. Subs: Mata, Lindegaard, Carrick, Ander Herrera, Fletcher, McNair, Wilson.
Gary Neville has interviewed former Oasis guitarist and lifelong Man City fan Noel Gallagher ahead of the game.
“Will Toure turn up today?” asks Graeme Souness, of City’s somewhat erratic star.
The former Liverpool player adds that James Milner is “the one solid player they have in midfield”.
Interesting…
Sky are now speaking to Argentina teammates Pablo Zabaleta and Angel Di Maria. The latter is speaking through a translator.
Jamie Redknapp is being unusually controversial on Sky, saying Marouane Fellaini is “not good enough” for Man United.
Niall Quinn defends the Belgian international, saying he looked a “superstar” at times for former club Everton.
Graeme Souness takes Redknapp’s side in the debate, saying he’s not the “long-term” answer to United’s problems.
There’s a late change to the City team.
Kolarov appears to have picked up an injury in the warm-up, so Gael Clichy will come in in his stead.
It’s a brave team in general that Van Gaal has picked.
We’re underway…
2 mins: An awful pass from Rooney puts United on the backfoot.
However, City ultimately overpass it and the attack fizzles out.
(Van Gaal was kind enough to sign autographs for the City fans ahead of the game)
6 mins: First half-chance of the game goes to City.
Milner plays through Aguero, who wriggles free in the box, however his shot is straight at De Gea, who parries the ball away to safety.
8 mins: A long ball is headed down by Van Persie, but Januzaj’s subsequent shot from just outside the box goes harmlessly wide.
It’s been a lively opening befitting of a tense derby.
Sky have created a helpful indicator showing positions that the United midfield are taking up.
17 mins: Not much has happened in recent minutes.
However, Rojo has just taken out Aguero, enlivening proceedings to an extent.
19 mins: Aguero latches on to a long ball and gets a shot in from a tight angle, which De Gea saves comfortably.
Shortly thereafter, De Gea makes two excellent saves, again from Aguero efforts, with the Spaniard accidentally clattering in to the striker on the latter occasion.
(Falcao greets Alex Ferguson in the stands)
28 mins: Yaya Toure has a free kick in a good position, but he curls it well over.
It’s been an intriguing game to see pan out, even if clear-cut chances have been at a premium thus far.
31 mins: Wayne Rooney is not happy, as Zabaleta does not receive a booking for a bad challenge, after Daley Blind was previously cautioned for a similar infringement.
To add further insult, Smalling is booked shortly thereafter, for attempting to block Hart’s efforts to take a quick goal kick.
Joe Hart certainly seems up for today’s game.
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RED CARD FOR CHRIS SMALLING!
39 mins: It’s hard to argue with that. Chris Smalling dives in and fails to get the ball, taking out James Milner in the process.
He was already booked for stupidly trying to block Joe Hart’s kick-out earlier.
It now looks like Fellaini will slot in as a makeshift centre-back. This is not a good situation for United to be in.
41 mins: Almost straight away, Fellaini clearly kicks Aguero in the box, but the ref fails to award the penalty.
Meanwhile, Carrick replaces Januzaj, as United attempt to re-adjust following that debilitating sending off.
Another big decision from the referee.
Toure plays a clever one-two on the edge of the box, before running through on goal, with Rojo seemingly taking him down.
Nevertheless, instead of awarding a penalty, the referee blows the whistle for half-time.
HALF-TIME: MAN CITY 0-0 MAN UNITED
‘Makeshift’ is putting it mildly.
The second half is underway…
48 mins: A City cross is cut out, but it falls to Zabaleta, who snatches at the ball, with his effort going over.
Before that, Rojo makes an excellent last-ditch tackle to stop Aguero getting a shot on target.
This feels like a crucial part of the game, which United need to ride out.
Marcos Rojo has had to go off injured, with Paddy McNair replacing him.
It’s not an easy situation for the inexperienced youngster from Antrim to come into.
It would be quite incredible if this back four managed a clean sheet against the attacking might of Man City.
60 mins: United get a rare chance to attack after Demichelis commits a late challenge on Di Maria.
The Argentine international produces a dangerous delivery, but no player gets his head to it.
GOAL FOR MAN CITY!
Man City 1-0 Man United (Aguero 62)
Clichy gets away from Di Maria, and plays an inch-perfect cross to Aguero, who slams the ball home past De Gea.
Hard to see United recovering from here.
Here’s a look at that Aguero goal.
It’s a rare chance for United, as Van Persie goes close to beating Hart at his near post.
Meanwhile, Dzeko has replaced Jovetic for City.
Di Maria concedes possession to Clichy, but the Frenchman’s subsequent cross is weak.
Shortly thereafter, Navas rattles a shoot against the woodwork, following a clever through ball by Toure.
United are really living on the edge at the moment.
Big chances for United!
Rooney goes on a mazy run before diving theatrically in the box. It then falls to Di Maria, who drags a shot just wide.
Fellaini then latches onto a Di Maria free-kick, but his header from close range is poor and goes well wide.
Fernandinho has replaced Aguero for City.
Meanwhile, for United, Wilson is on for Van Persie.
City have looked extremely nervy of late, with United the batter team.
In addition, Wayne Rooney is currently receiving treatment after landing awkwardly following a challenge with Hart.
Brilliant from Yaya Toure, who turns exquisitely past McNair, before curling it just wide.
Dzeko then breaks free on the counter, but a last-ditch tackle stops him in his tracks.
There will be five minutes of stoppage time.
A free kick is hoofed into the box by Blind, but Fellaini stupidly has his arms all over Kompany and gives away a free kick.
Looks like City are going to hold on.
FULL-TIME: MAN CITY 1-0 MAN UNITED
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So Man City probably just about deserved their win ultimately.
The hosts played with more adventure for much of the game, and capitalised well following Chris Smalling’s silly red card for two clear bookings.
United almost got back into the game in the final few minutes, missing one or two big chances, as City suddenly seemed to be overcome with nervousness.
However, led by the always reliable Vincent Kompany, the hosts survived to claim an important win.
Yaya Toure appears to have silenced his critics to an extent.
The Ivory Coast star has been named man-of-the-match today.
Right, that’s all from me.
Thanks for reading and commenting, and we’ll have more reaction to follow.
