STALE SAFE
Derby a snorefest as gaffers fail to gamble
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Pep Guardiola opted to cancel each other out and in the process cancelled out any hope of entertainment.
The ultra- cautious bosses of the Manchester rivals chose safety first over attacking flair.
It almost paid off for Solskjaer’s United when they were awarded a 48th- minute penalty after Kyle Walked kicked Marcus Rashford’s foot in the box.
But even that moment of drama became an anti- climax as the decision was over-ruled after VAR found the United striker had been in an offside position in the first place.
Staggeringly, Solskjaer claimed it was the best his side had played against their rivals. He said: “In my time against Manchester City that’s the best performance we have had.
“It’s not the best result but the best performance.
“It was a tight game. I know we beat them a few times last season but those were different games. They had a few big moments.
“It’s two good teams. Tactically we knew they were going to give us some problems but defensively we were excellent.
“I ’ m del ighted with the defensive shape. With the ball we didn’t create as much as we wanted to and they probably had the bigger moments in open play.”
United’s best chance came in the 54th minute when Paul Pobga put Rashford in on the left but the striker slipped as he shot harmlessly wide.
City had created little up to that point.
A Riyad Mahrez shot was saved by David De Gea in the 35th minute with Kevin De Bruyne unable to latch on to the rebound.
Solskjaer’s side are seventh on 20 points with eighth-placed City a point behind after 11 games.
City boss Guardiola said: “We created three or four clear r chances and you cannot expect t many against a team l ike e Manchester United.
“It is a good point in the end.d. It will be a good point in thehe future.
“United is always a strong ng team, this is Old Trafford and d in a few details they are out of f the Champions League.
“They score when they can n run but we controlled them m really well.
“It is not a derby, it would be e different with the people and d maybe they pushed more.
“It is different every week without the people.”
DULL YIN Rashford feelss pain as bosses embrace