MICHAEL Carrick got off to the perfect start in his second spell as Manchester United caretaker head coach with a 2-0 English Premier League victory over Manchester City today at Old Trafford.
Second-half goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu earned Manchester United the victory and inflicted serious damage on Manchester City’s Premier League title hopes.
After so much recent discontent, this was a day when Old Trafford came alive, leaving Sir Alex Ferguson celebrating in the stands and United fans sarcastically waving off City striker Erling Haaland when he was replaced 10 minutes from time.
City had goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to thank for keeping his side in the game, with the Italian making a string of superb saves to deny Dorgu, Amad Diallo, Casemiro and Mbeumo.
But even Donnarumma was powerless to prevent United going in front as skipper Bruno Fernandes led a surging counter-attack and fed Mbeumo to his left before the Cameroon forward, returning from Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) duty, applied the finish.
Eleven minutes later, United doubled their lead as City defender Rico Lewis was caught flat-footed, allowing Dorgu to nip in front of him to turn home Matheus Cunha’s cut-back.
United had three goals disallowed for offside and Diallo hit ... late on but with Haaland extending his run to one goal in seven games, City didn’t look like mounting a comeback.
As United’s fans paid homage to Carrick, City boss Pep Guardiola slumped in his dug-out as his side’s run without a Premier League win extended to four games, opening the door for Arsenal to strengthen their grip on the title.
However briefly, United move up to fourth, something they failed to do so often under Ruben Amorim, leaving Carrick to celebrate with his new coaching team at the end.
With agency report