Manchester United, Manchester City play out drab draw in 183rd Manchester derby

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:11 am

Manchester United had a penalty award overturned as their derby with Manchester City ended in a disappointing 0-0 draw in the Premier League on Saturday.

United were awarded a spot kick in the 48th minute when Kyle Walker kicked Marcus Rashford's foot in the box but the decision was over-ruled after VAR found the United striker had been in an offside position.

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The result left United in seventh place on 20 points with City a point behind in eighth after 11 games.

Pacesetters Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool have 24 points from 11 matches before they play at Crystal Palace and Fulham respectively on Sunday.

With no fans inside a chilly Old Trafford due to COVID-19 restrictions, the passion and energy of the Manchester derby was absent but United will probably be the happier of the two teams.

After their Champions League exit at the hands of RB Leipzig on Tuesday, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needed to avoid the kind of result that might have raised serious questions about his role.

The Norwegian set his team up in one of the more conservative of his tactical variations with just two strikers, three mainly defensive midfielders and Bruno Fernandes charged with creating openings.

Man United and Man City found chances hard to come by on Saturday.
AP Photo/Michael Regan

If the job was to ensure that United restricted City and ground out a creditable draw then the structure worked -- even if it was far from thrilling for the fans watching at home.

City had created the best chance up to the penalty incident -- a Riyad Mahrez shot saved by David De Gea in the 35th minute with Kevin De Bruyne unable to capitalise on the loose ball.

United's best chance came in the 54th when Paul Pogba put Rashford in on the left but the striker slipped as he shot harmlessly wide and their first effort on goal did not come until a harmless attempt straight at City keeper Ederson from Fernandes in the 88th.

City lacked the sparkle and shine of their best performances with the use of Rodrigo and Fernandinho as a pair of holding midfielders indicating manager Pep Guardiola was also unwilling to go for bust in this fixture.