OTD: Manchester United 4-2 Manchester City, 12th April 2015

On this day back in 2015 Manchester United once again thrashed rivals Manchester City 4-2. I could have picked a number of games to unearth from this date, but since United beating City is quite relevant at the moment, I thought I’d rub it in a bit more!

Under Louis Van Gaal, Manchester United were a team in transition. After not getting off to a great start, United picked up the pace in September and until the turn of the new year sat comfortably in third.

Draws to Stoke and West Ham, as well as losses against Southampton and Swansea rocked United. But Van Gaal found a formula as the season drew to a close. The 433 formation.

The pass master Michael Carrick had Ander Herrera to his right. He also had the bulldozing Marouane Fellaini to his left who’s late runs into the box caused havoc with Ashley Young’s delivery from the left. Juan Mata was elegant as always linking play cutting in from the right and Wayne Rooney was dominant as the lone striker. /

Many thought ahead of the season that Manchester City would begin to dominate Engish football after claiming another league title the previous May. However, an ageing City squad were relying heavily on the brilliance of Sergio Aguero and David Silva.

United had won five on the bounce prior to this fixture leapfrogging their noisy neighbours into second. However, the red side of Manchester were due a win against the blue side. City had defeated United in their last three visits to the Theatre Of Dreams with an aggregate scoreline of 2-11.

The match report

Despite their ageing squad, City proved they could still get out of their chair quickly, starting much the brighter team. David De Gea denied Jesus Navas from taking an early lead with a comfortable save low at the near post.

Manuel Pelligrini’s side did take the lead moments later though. After neat work from James Milner cutting in from the left, he slipped a ball through to David Silva. The Spaniard squared it across the face of goal to Sergio Aguero, tapping home into an empty net. 0-1 (8 mins).

With the Old Trafford crowd raucous, Manchester United responded straight away. Prompting Sky Sports co-commentator and former Red, Gary Neville to exclaim, “we’ve got a proper football match on our hands here!”

De Gea’s long ball upfield found Herrera down the left-hand side, who curled the ball right across the front post into the path of the oncoming Ashley Young. His initial stab at goal was blocked by Gael Clichy, but the Englishman kept his balance to lash home the rebound. 1-1 (14 mins).

United were making inroads down City’s right. Blind this time progressed forward. He checked back and laid the ball back to Ashley Young, who had time to get it out of his feet and whip in another very tempting cross. Not a good idea. The curling cross cleared all, except Marouane Fellaini who powered home a header at the back post. 2-1 (27 mins) /

Manchester City tried to hit back. United were all at sea as City countered. Milner played the ball through to Sergio Aguero bearing down on the Stretford End. Had Antonio Valencia of stepped up, the striker would have been offside, but Valencia decided to vacate the now free David Silva and conquer Aguero with pace. Despite the 2v1 developing, Valencia sprinted across and shrugged Aguero off the ball for a Manchester United goal kick.

Louis Van Gaal’s men may have been lucky to be going in at halftime in front, however, the away side were lucky to still have 11 men on the pitch. Vincent Kompany’s lunging challenge on Daley Blind only saw him receive a yellow card despite catching the dutchman’s shins with his studs.

The second half

Much to the joy of the Old Trafford crowd, the home side came out after the break the brighter team. A Wayne Rooney free kick was destined for the top corner before Joe Hart palmed away. Only as far as Ashley Young though who smashed the ball back across the six-yard box only for United to be denied twice again. Michael Carrick laced the ball straight at Joe Hart before Ander Herrera’s shot was blocked by a wall of blue.

But United’s pressure eventually prevailed. Daley Blind fired a first-time pass into Wayne Rooney who turned quickly before slotting through Juan Mata down the right. The playmaker took the ball into the City box, waited until Joe Hart committed and passed the ball through his legs and into the net. 3-1 (67 mins).

Six minutes later the hosts had a chance to put the game to bed. Young involved again, winning and taking a free kick 25-yards out from goal on the left. Undoubtedly, Young whipped another teasing cross into the box, which was flicked home into the ground and bouncing high into the top corner by Chris Smalling.

Martin Tyler labelled it the “DEMOLITION DERBY AT OLD TRAFFORD!” More like redemption day, with United finally healing the scars of the 6-1 thrashing back in 2011. Aguero netted a consolation goal in the last minute, despite De Gea’s best efforts turning the ball onto the post. But the ball went in, to scratch a touch of gloss of a memorable win.

What happened next…

Despite Louis Van Gaal finding a formula that worked, Manchester United went on to lose their next three matches. To Chelsea, Everton and West Brom. Winning against Crystal Palace next before drawing the final two games of the season against Arsenal and Hull City meant United slipped down to fourth.

Next: Top 5 iconic moments in Manchester United's recent history!

Manchester City finished second despite losing the derby. There was big change to come however with many of the ageing players leaving the club in the summer.

Both Manchester clubs finished the season in the top four securing their place in the Champions League for next season. But the 4-2 win on April 12th will live long in the memory for both sets of fans.

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