EPL [ 3 ] : Manchester City 1 - 0 Manchester United

Barclays Premier League
Eastlands, Sun 19 August

MANCHESTER CITY 1
Geovanni (31)

MANCHESTER UNITED 0

United slumped to a derby-day defeat on Sunday as a poor Manchester City team eked out a 1-0 win at Eastlands.

Even without Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, the Reds battered Sven Goran Eriksson's new-look side, but with Carlos Tevez the only recognised striker in United's starting XI, Sir Alex's team struggled to find the net.

The Reds enjoyed the lion's share of possession but failed to convert a string of chances against a City team devoid of attacking ambition. Indeed, the Blues' goal came from their only shot on target in the first half. At the other end, they relied on Micah Richards, captain Richard Dunne and goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel to dig them out of trouble, time and time again.

The loss leaves United with just two points from the first three games, while Manchester City, still undefeated and yet to concede a goal, are top of the league.

The Blues' lively start to the season meant United went into the match in the unusual position of having less points than their city neighbours. But form always goes out the window in derbies and, true enough, the Reds dominated possession from the opening whistle.

Owen Hargreaves made his league debut alongside Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes in midfield, with Ryan Giggs, Carlos Tevez and Nani playing as a front three. It was the young Portuguese international who had the game's first chance, his fifth-minute shot well saved by Kasper Schmeichel after good build-up play from Scholes and Tevez.

The Blues suffered and early blow when striker Valeri Bojinov fell awkwardly while challenging Patrice Evra for a header and was stretchered off the pitch. Emile Mpenza, one of City's most effective players during the last campaign, replaced the Bulgarian international but couldn't help stem the Red tide. It was all United as Nani asserted himself down the left wing and Paul Scholes continually found time and space in the centre of the park. Nani had another half chance on 17 minutes, after Scholes' crafty flick teed up the no.17 on his left foot. But Schmeichel, the son of United legend Peter, was again equal to the task.

Carlos Tevez and Patrice Evra then went close before City took a shock lead through Brazilian Geovanni on 31 minutes. Just a minute after the Blues engineered their first shot of the match – a speculative Michael Johnson blast from long range – Geovanni received the ball unmarked 25 yards from goal and let fire. Had the ball not clipped Nemanja Vidic's calf on the edge of the penalty area, it's likely Edwin van der Sar would have made a routine save. But the touch off the Serbian imparted wicked spin on the ball, which took it away from the Reds goalkeeper and into the corner of the net.

With City fans in full voice and revelling in the scoreline, Kasper Schmeichel almost gifted United an equaliser when he spilled a cross in the six-yard area. Luckily for the Dane, Micah Richards, who was superb in the heart of the City defence, cleared the danger and ensured the Blues went into the break 1-0 up.

Despite going behind, Sir Alex won't have been too disappointed with how the Reds were playing. After all, Nani, Scholes and Owen Hargreaves had looked particularly impressive in the first 45 minutes and the back four restricted the home side to just one shot on goal. But flair and possession count for nothing if not converted into goals and the Reds were made to pay for some severely lax finishing.

Little changed in the second half, as United continued to bombard Schmeichel's goal. In the second half's opening exchanges, Nemanja Vidic hit the bar from a corner, Richards slid in to deny Carlos Tevez what would have been a certain tap-in, Paul Scholes fired over from 15 yards and Tevez failed to get a decent connection on a Giggs cross.

It took the Blues until the 67th minute before Sven's men mustered another shot on goal and even then it was a tame Geovanni free-kick. Sir Alex then made two changes (Eagles had earlier replaced Nani) in an effort to salvage the match, with John O'Shea and debutant Fraizer Campbell thrust into the action.

Carlos Tevez volleyed wide on 76 minutes but still City stood firm. Schmeichel snuffed out a dangerous through ball and Micah Richards headed out a wide free kick as it looked increasingly as if it wasn't to be United's day. That hunch was confirmed when, just seconds before the fourth official indicated there would be four added minutes, a corner flashed across the City goal and Carlos Tevez, lurking at the back post, headed wide from two yards.

It was a frustrating end to a game United should have won comfortably. Instead, the Reds are now left to reflect on yet another performance that was characterised by impressive ball retention yet wasteful finishing.

Line-ups:
United: van der Sar; Brown (O'Shea, 73), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Carrick (Campbell, 73), Scholes, Hargreaves; Nani (Eagles, 60), Giggs, Tevez

Subs not used: Kuszczak, Silvestre


City: Schmeichel; Corluka, Dunne, Richards, Garrido; Johnson, Hamann, Geovanni (Ball, 74), Petrov; Bojinov (Mpenza, 8), Elano (Bianchi, 63)

Subs not used: Hart, Onuoha