Player Ratings: Manchester United - Manchester City

Party poopers Manchester City claimed all three points and a rare double over neighbours United in an emotionally charged derby. Nigel Smith offers his player-ratings from the game.

MANCHESTER UNITED

Van Der Sar - 6: Had no chance with either of City’s goals and will feel let down by the ragged performance of the defenders in front.

Brown - 5.5: Offered little going forward. Had his hands full coping with the dangerous Petrov.

Ferdinand 5.5: Surprisingly off-colour display from the normally authoratative centre half. Nearly gifted City a third goal when needlessly giving away possession in the second half.

Vidic - 5: Made one or two heroic interventions but his current dip in form mirrors that of the whole team. Played the last 10 minutes as a centre forward and was hardly more impressive.

O'Shea - 5.5: Disappointing performance from the Irishman. Lacked the pace and imagination to support United’s attacking thrusts and looked vulnerable whenever City attacked down the flank.

Giggs - 5: Poor and peripheral performance from the winger. Seldom found himself in synch with the rhythm of the match and contributed little to the few United attacks. Substitution would have been merciful.

Anderson - 7: The pick of United’s players. The young Brazilian was inexplicably substituted when he alone demonstrated the drive and urgency that the occasion warranted.

Scholes - 5.5: Another below-par performance from the usually reliable midfield general. Sat too deep for much of the game and all too often his passes were horizontal. When he did move further forward, Scholes contributed to United’s goal. Lucky to be starting on current form.

Nani - 5: Another United forward player to be missing in action for most of the game. Failed to make any worthwhile impression in a game he will want to forget.

Ronaldo - 5.5: Looks to be running on empty. The manager complained that he the winger had been overused on midweek international duty and it showed. Heavy-legged, the Portuguese star couldn’t get past the City defenders nor offer his usual spark and invention.

Tevez - 6.5: Showed the usual willing and energy. An acrobatic first half shot was well saved. Thereafter, the Argentine was marshalled effectively by City’s defenders.

Substitutes:

Ji Sung Park - 5.5: Had little impact on the game.

Hargreaves - 5.5: Couldn’t improve on United’s disappointing midfield performance.

Carrick - 6: A good goal, but too little too late. Finally, a United midfielder on the score sheet other than Ronaldo.


MANCHESTER CITY

Hart - 7: Excellent save from Tevez in first half. Relatively untroubled by United’s toothless attack.

Ball - 6.5: Kept Nani quiet and contributed to a disciplined defensive performance.

Dunne - 8: Towering performance in defence. When City needed a last man his name was Dunne

Richards - 7: Athletic, spirited but occasionally clumsy performance from the England man who might have conceded a penalty in the first half.

Onuoha - 6.5: Understated display. Didn’t push forward as much as City might have liked but was not found wanting when United attacked.

Fernandes - 6: Showed some neat touches and used the ball with intelligence before fading in the second half.

Hamann - 7: Used all the means leagally available, and a few more, to keep Manchester United in check. Howard Webb was perhaps a touch lenient with him, and he made the most of that to stamp his authority.

Ireland - 7: Effective midfield display. Got forward well and was instrumental in City’s first goal.

Petrov - 8.5: Tormented United in an excellent first half performance. The Bulgarian was at the heart of City’s dominance and was the creator of both goals.

Benjani - 6.5: Will enjoy the tape of his first derby performance. Showed willing as the lone raider and was rewarded with his goal.

Vassell - 7: Played his part in a famous victory. Worked hard for the team, and took his goal well.

Substitutes:

Caicedo 5: No impact on the proceedings.

Sun Jihai 5: Didn’t touch the ball in the eight minutes he was on the field.