Red-Letter Derby Day

Manchester United played outstandingly to win this latest installment of the Manchester Derby 2-0. They were hungry; fearless and energetic; everything City were not; as goals from Anthony Martial & Scott McTominay gave them a much-heralded league double over Josep Guardiola's men.

You must say Ole Gunnar Solksjaer got his tactical formation perfect for this one... with a 3-4-1-2; it over-ran City in the heart of the midfield; and allowed their two young guns Aaron Wan-Bissaka & Brandon Williams the full length of the pitch to shine on the wings. Bruno Fernandes was given his best position to rove in the 'No. 10' role; behind the pacy front two of Daniel James & Anthony Martial.

You also got to notice the resurgence of Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic. Once regarded as perhaps the best holding midfielder in the world; he has enjoyed a renaissance of sorts in recent times; forming a solid midfield axis with an equally-improving Fred; which is proving so strong that their arguable Player-of-the-Season McTominay cannot even make it to the starting line-up.

City were strangely out of whack; short of hunger; passion and creativity. Even though they enjoyed decent possession; they could hardly create any decent chances at all and their smooth; silky-on-the-eye passing football was strangely bereft to see. Especially impotent was their young star Phil Foden; so impressive in the League Cup Final Man-Of-The-Match appearance just last week; and Raheem Sterling; who had one of his worst games against the excellent Wan-Bissaka.

Ederson is certainly one of the best goalkeepers in the world. But he had a terrible game in this one. Firstly, he allowed Martial's shot (after a brilliantly-creative clip from Fernandes) to creep under him at the near post for the opening goal. In the second half; he also allowed Joao Cancelo's back-pass to scarily slip under his foot; requiring a Paolo Maldini-like clearance from the on-rushing Martial to prevent a calamitous second. And in the final minutes; with City desperately chasing an equaliser; he produced a woeful throw-out to Benjamin Mendy that went too far; allowing substitute McTominay to latch on and steer a wonderful curler into the gaping City net.

Old Trafford was a rightful hot-house at the end; with fans and players alike rapturous in celebration at the awesome show they just witnessed. For the first time in a long time; it looks like the Manchester United of old is coming back.