MAN CITY 0 V. MAN UTD 0
10 NOVEMBER 2010 EASTLANDS | ATTENDANCE: 47,679
You didn't really think we were going to get another classic, did you?
The four Manchester derbies last season served up enough drama to last a lifetime; the first instalment for 2010/11 was tepid in comparison and finished goalless.
A cagey first-half gave way to more entertainment in the second, but only just. In the end, neither side took enough risks to win the game. City, in particular, were devoid of attacking ambition in front of their home crowd and Reds goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar later revealed he thought Roberto Mancini's men had played for a draw.
Despite the stalemate, Sir Alex's men remain unbeaten and in second place on the Barclays Premier League table, now four points behind leaders Chelsea. The Londoners beat Fulham 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.
The Reds had been rocked by illness in the days preceding the game, yet many of those hit hardest started at Eastlands. This was a Manchester derby, after all: nobody was going to surrender easily.
One man who failed to pass a late fitness test, though, was Ryan Giggs. The 36-year-old has been nursing a hamstring strain recently and was conspicuous in his absence on Tuesday night: until now, Giggs had played in every single Manchester derby – 33 of them – since making his United debut in 1991.
The Reds' width at Eastlands came from Ji-sung Park, fresh from two goals against Wolves on Saturday, and Nani, sufficiently recovered from the groin strain he picked up in Bursaspor. But neither they nor Dimitar Berbatov, making his 100th Reds appearances, saw much of the ball in the opening exchanges.
Instead, the home side bossed possession and pressed high up the pitch. Carlos Tevez's harrying made life uncomfortable for Rio Ferdinand and van der Sar on separate occasions, but it took the home side until the 36th minute to register a meaningful effort on goal.
Goalmouth action was scarce at the other end, too. Nani offered Joe Hart some friendly catching practice with a long-range free-kick, while Evra did much the same with a right-footed effort after he'd linked well with Park on the edge of the penalty area.
The game was crying out for some spark, some invention, a moment of magic that would tip the balance of power towards either red or blue. Scholes tried to unlock the City defence with a cheeky scooped pass, Tevez drew a smart save from van der Sar when his free-kick appeared destined for the top corner and Yaya Toure embarked on a run that was halted only when Vidic - once again a colossus at the heart of the Reds' defence - took command on the edge of the area. But that was as close either side came to breaking the deadlock before the interval.
Neither side made changes at half-time but with only four minutes elapsed in the second period, Rafael limped off with a dead leg. Wes Brown took his place at right-back and, after a spell of sustained United possession, crossed for Berbatov to volley acrobatically towards goal. Contact was crisp but the Bulgarian's shot flew straight at Hart. A minute later, Tevez shot tamely on target, as, for the first time, the match threatened to lurch into second gear.
Sir Alex was then forced to reshuffle his defensive deck again. Rafael, already forced from the pitch with injury, was joined on the sidelines by Patrice Evra. The Frenchman had played on after suffering an ankle knock in the first half, but the same injury brought his derby to an end on 69 minutes and he was replaced by John O'Shea.
Mancini, meanwhile, played his first hand three minutes later, bringing on Adam Johnson for James Milner and sending the youngster straight across to the right wing to attack down United's left flank. Sir Alex responded with Chicharito, who took over lone striker duty from the impressive Berbatov. The Bulgarian shielded and held the ball up well during his shift, often long enough to allow his team-mates to advance beyond him and into City's final third.
Ultimately, though, both sides were terrified of losing and didn't commit enough numbers forward. Vidic and United's central midfielders, in particular, could all hold their heads high at the final whistle, but there was certainly none of the late drama that characterised this fixture last term. Instead, the sides served up the first 0-0 draw at City's home since November 1991.
They can't all be thrillers.
Credit: Manchester United Ltd
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