’N THE CITY
trailing City by 12 points and facing another season as title also-rans.
There was no sarcastic ear-cupping from Jose Mourinho to the home fans at the final whistle. This ultimately served to confirm the huge gulf in class between the sides.
City took the lead in the 12th minute, David Silva starting and finishing the move, with United’s defence pulled all over the place by the speed and ruthless efficiency of the attack.
It was no more than City deserved for their dazzling start and at that stage it looked as though they were ready to bury their local rivals under an avalanche of goals, such was their dominance.
But United managed to halt the Blue tide to frustrate the home side and blunt their early impetus.
Yet Mourinho’s men found themselves 2-0 down three minutes after the restart. Jesse Lingard was robbed in the middle by Fernandinho, with Sergio Aguero making United pay for that loss of focus.
City’s all-time leading scorer picked the ball up and after combining with Raheem Sterling, the Argentinian dispatched a thunderous finish past David De Gea at his near post.
The visitors were handed a lifeline in the 58th minute when City keeper Ederson brought down Romelu Lukaku, who had only been on the pitch a matter of seconds, to concede a needless penalty.
Anthony Martial slotted the ball in from the spot to give Mourinho’s side hope of another epic comeback over their neighbours.
But it proved false hope for the Reds, with sub Ilkay Gundogan plundering a third goal in the 86th minute.
The German converted from close range to give the Blues breathing space as City could even afford to run the clock down with some fancy footwork from Sterling rubbing it in.