Dull Manchester derby ends in a goalless draw
The much-anticipated Manchester derby ended in an anti-climactic goalless draw at the City of Manchester Stadium on Wednesday 10 November.
With a cautious Manchester City side unable to pounce on their home advantage and Manchester United happy to earn a point, the tie ended in a stalemate.
"When you play a derby it's a difficult game," City boss Roberto Mancini told reporters after the draw. "We tried to win, like them, but they defended very well. We want to win but when you don't have
chances it's difficult. For me, in the end it's a good point."
Mancini's satisfaction with the draw comes after City failed to claim any points against United last season. The game also earned his team a four-point gap down to Newcastle United in fifth place.
But rather than take the game to United on their home ground — which City were able to do against Chelsea in September as Carlos Tevez's solo earned them three points — City were cautious from the outset.
Yaya Toure, a defensive midfielder, was positioned as the link between midfield and attack, leaving Tevez with very few balls to work with.
Two chances in the first half
United's Patrice Evra showed intent early in the first half, when his exchange with Park Ji-Sung led the Frenchman into the box where he hit a right-footed finish straight at Joe Hart in the City goal.
Scholes fouled James Milner with 35 minutes gone, resulting in a free kick that Edwin van der Sar did well to block after Tevez curled it towards the near corner in what would become the last scoring opportunity
of the first half.
After the break, substitute Wesley Brown was played in by Michael Carrick on the right side of the box before his cross found Dimitar Berbatov, whose hooked finish was expertly executed but directed straight
at Hart.
City looked largely unable to threaten their visitors in the second half, with Tevez' turn and shot from the left-hand side providing one of the team's only openings.
Zabaleta gets the last chance
In the 85th minute, Pablo Zabaleta broke down the left and received the ball unexpectedly inside the box. The Argentine took a touch to make himself space, but could only hit his shot over the goal.
The subdued encounter, a far cry from the United's thrilling 4–3 win at Old Trafford last season, came to an end after neither side seemed determined to go for the win.
City remain in fourth place with 21 points, while United have 24 and are second behind Chelsea, trailing the leaders by four points.
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