3. United still a long way away from the top
After a morale-boosting draw against Chelsea last weekend, the game against City was one that some sections of the crowd thought they could get something out of the game. For all the money that was spent, it was becoming increasingly clear that on the pitch, the side were only just starting to play in a ways that the manager wants them to play. With that in mind, the last thing they would have wanted is a defeat to their bitter rivals.
Unfortunately for United, Smalling’s stupid sending off in the first half meant that they were going to be chasing shadows for the rest of the game. If that wasn’t enough Rojo’s injury meant that the Red Devils finished the game with a centre back pairing of 19-year-old Paddy McNair and Michael Carrick, who was making his first appearance of the season. Although the visitors tried their best to get a goal back in the final 15 minutes, it wasn’t to be as City, unlike Chelsea last week were able to hold on to their lead and left United still awaiting their first away win of the season.