Man United end Man City’s 21 successive victories

Manchester United Sunday evening subdued a previously unstoppable Man City and enhanced their top-four chances with two un-replied goals.

United, who have now gone 22 league away games unbeaten – including 14 wins – stunned City with a fast start and were ahead after a penalty was awarded inside the first 30 seconds when Gabriel Jesus fouled the impressive Antony Martial.

Bruno Fernandes scored from the spot despite City keeper Ederson getting a strong hand on the ball, then United fashioned the win with a mixture of solid defence and constant menace on the break.

Rodri almost equalised just after the break when his shot glanced off the angle of post and bar, but United effectively sealed the win – condemning City to their first loss since a 2-0 defeat at Tottenham on 21 November – when the outstanding Shaw, who had earlier missed a chance to double United’s lead, led a counter-attack, exchanging passes with Marcus Rashford before beating Ederson with a low shot.

Solskjaer’s team, who had not scored in their previous three games, moved back into second place, a point ahead of Leicester City in the increasingly tight fight for a place in the top four.

Martial missed a couple of second-half opportunities but fully deserved the applause he received from the United bench when he was replaced by Nemanja Matic late on.

Martial was not the only significant contributor. Goalkeeper Dean Henderson looked secure and confident as he kept another clean sheet, pressing his claims to be United’s number one with David de Gea away in Spain after the birth of his daughter.

United did the double over City last season and Solskjaer is the first United manager to win three successive away games against their arch-rivals since a run of four between November 1993 and November 2000.

He is also the first manager in United’s history to win his first three away meetings against City in all competitions.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola told BBC Sport: “Congratulations Manchester United first of all. Ten games left, now we arrive the important part of the season. The last 10 games are important and we start next Wednesday. We will try to win as many games as possible to be champions.

“Against West Ham we played much, much worse than today. Against West Ham we didn’t deserve to win and maybe today we didn’t deserve to lose. We were not good in front of goal – our strikers were not brilliant today – but it happens.”

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told BBC Sport: “I’m delighted. We were on the front foot for 10-15 minutes but then the last half hour of the first half I felt we played too much on the result. We had to get to half-time to get hold of everyone again.

“The second goal was magnificent. Luke just showed what he is about. He was a massive doubt this morning and had to go through a fitness test to play. What a performance.

“We defended really well. We were more like ourselves with the ball attacking-wise.

“Anthony Martial was man of the match and he was an even bigger doubt than Luke. That was the Anthony we know – strong, positive and taking players on. I’m delighted for him.”

-BBC Sport