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Barclays Premier League 2015-16

Full-time: Manchester City 0-1 Manchester United

  • Marcus Rashford scores his fifth goal in eight senior matches as United's top-four hopes are given a major boost at the Etihad Stadium
  • City lose England duo Raheem Sterling and Joe Hart to injury before the international break
  • Louis van Gaal's side, who were denied a penalty on the stroke of half-time when Martin Demichelis clumsily felled Rashford, stay sixth but move to within just one point of their local rivals
  • Underwhelming City remain 15 adrift of leaders Leicester and face a battle to retain their Champions League berth ahead of Pep Guardiola's arrival
Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford opened the scoring for Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium AFP

That is it from us for now, but stay tuned to IBTimes UK for all the latest sports news. Goodbye.

That was the latest in a long sequence of underwhelming performances from City, who are definitely out of title contention now and face a real battle just to retain their place in the top four with sixth-place United having closed the gap to just one point.

A morale-boosting afternoon for Van Gaal and co, who are right back in the thick of the race for Champions League qualification. Derby success coming as the perfect tonic for that painful Europa League exit to Liverpool.

Marcus Rashford
Getty

They have a real talent in Rashford who is likely to play a big role at Old Trafford moving forward.

Full-time

Manchester City 0-1 Manchester United

More fine defending from Smalling to remain focused and snuff out the threat of Aguero's mazy run. Just a minute remaining and Rashford wins a crucial corner off Mangala.

That will eat up the seconds.

Sustained pressure from City once more but United's rearguard are holding firm and Bony concedes a cheap free-kick by shoving Smalling.

A wonderful lofted pass from Silva picks out Aguero, who takes an ideal first touch to evade Valencia before snatching his shot wide.

City have not fared well with injuries this afternoon and their key man stays down for a few seconds before slowly getting back to his feet and sporting a worrying limp.

Sergio Aguero
AFP

United's away fans are in fine voice as the fourth official signals six minutes of stoppage time. Can City find an equaliser from somewhere?

United have used all of their available substitutions, so Rashford will soldier on. Fernandinho heads harmlessly wide from a corner.

Rashford also went down a few moments ago before trying to continue. He has now sunk to the turf once again in the centre circle with what Van Gaal will be hoping is another case of cramp.

It's been a short turnaround following the Europa League last-16 second leg against Liverpool on Thursday.

Physical stuff from Fernandinho, who uses his body well to block off the run of Martial. The Frenchman complains but he was never likely to get a penalty for that.

Van Gaal has been ridiculed lately for his habit of changing both full-backs during games, but he has been left with no choice at the Etihad as Darmian goes down again before limping off to be replaced by 18-year-old Fosu-Mensah.

Timothy Fosu-Mensah
AFP

A touch of cramp by the looks of things for Darmian, who will be OK to continue. Marouane Fellaini and Timothy Fosu-Mensah are both warming up for United.

Boos from the home supporters and a wry shake of the head from Pellegrini after Smalling comes through the back of Aguero but avoids collecting a second yellow.

Only the second yellow card of the afternoon and a first for City as Mangala is cautioned for a lunge on Lingard.

City are absolutely dominating this game now as Navas weaves his way inside past Darmian before drilling a right-footed shot over. There is no out ball for United at the moment and this could be a very long last 15 minutes for them.

It's just not falling for City, try as they might. More patient build-up leads to Silva picking out Aguero with a dangerous back-post cross, but he can only send his header back across goal and Bony is denied by Carrick after Toure keeps the attack alive.

Bastian Schweinsteiger replaces Mata for the final 20 minutes of the derby.

United are being penned in their own half now and the woodwork comes to the rescue when Aguero stoops in front of Smalling to head Toure's searching cross on to the post.

Sergio Aguero
Getty

De Gea may have had it covered anyway.

Good work from Navas to find Sagna, who fires a low cross towards Bony. The-ex Swansea favourite, who has flattered to deceive since a £28m switch to City in January 2015, looks likely to score before an excellent block from Smalling.

City probe patiently before Bony's shot is inadvertently blocked by Toure. Smalling hacks clear.

Valencia is now on in place of Rojo, who is blowing hard and moving a tad gingerly. The Argentine international only returned to action in late February after three months out with a dislocated shoulder.

Alert defending from Darmian to cut out Aguero's pass towards Silva. Antonio Valencia is preparing to enter the fray with an hour gone.

With Demichelis off, City have pushed Fernandinho back to partner Mangala in defence.

Caballero has been busy since coming on, first denying Rojo's cross to Rashford at the front post and now beating away a deflected goalbound strike from Martial.

Aguero then collects possession on the right flank before driving at Blind and Smalling with Bony in support. The run ends with a shot that soars high over the crossbar.

With just under 40 minutes left to play, Pellegrini makes his final change. Demichelis' rotten game is over as he trudges off to be replaced by striker Wilfried Bony.

More bad news for City and England as Hart receives treatment before being carried off on a stretcher. Willy Caballero, hero of City's Capital One Cup final penalty shoot-out triumph over Liverpool at Wembley last month, comes on in his place.

Joe Hart
Getty

A woeful afternoon for Demichelis continues as he sells Hart short with an ill-judged backpass that is quickly set upon by Martial.

The goalkeeper is at full stretch to keep him at bay but he looks to have hurt his calf in the process.

The second half is off and running. No changes from either side at the break.

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The opening 45 minutes finishes on a sour note for United as they are denied what appeared a stonewall spot-kick as the lumbering Demichelis is shown up by Rashford, who has looked to exploit his pace advantage at every turn so far today.

Martin Demichelis
Getty

Van Gaal will be more than content with his side's efforts so far, although City remain hugely underwhelming.

Half-time

Manchester City 0-1 Manchester United

Penalty shouts at both ends now. Just moments after Carrick's tangle with Toure, Schneiderlin sends through Rashford with a lovely piece of skill before the youngster is floored by Demichelis.

It looks like a straightforward decision but Oliver inexplicably waves play on before scuffles break out between both sets of players. Controversial.

Silva's ball towards the front post is flicked on towards Toure by Sagna. The Ivorian wants a penalty after being prevented from applying the finishing touch by Carrick but Oliver is unmoved.

Blid vs Aguero is becoming something of a running battle during the latter stages of this first half. Their latest coming together sees the wily Argentine win a free-kick after being bundled over on the far side.

Mangala cuts out Martial's cross before Daley Blind goes to ground in pain after a painful kick to the foot from Aguero. Referee Michael Oliver decides against a yellow card, which leads an animated Van Gaal to remonstrate with the fourth official.

Daley Blind
AFP

Smalling strides up in support of Rashford, although there are no red shirts around to capitalise on the latter's low ball across the box.

Navas has been heavily involved for City during the first 35 minutes and his latest attempt is deflected behind for another corner. Rojo clears away without too much trouble.

Smalling makes an important intervention to clear Navas' low cross away for a corner. Sagna then wins a header but it's comfortable for De Gea to deal with.

After Aguero is harshly adjudged to have strayed offside, City attack again and Toure tries his luck with a curling left-footed effort that flies narrowly wide.

Sterling heads straight down the tunnel. You suspect that his place in the England squad for upcoming friendlies against Germany and the Netherlands may now be in jeopardy.

That switch has instigated a slight system change for City, with Fernando holding alongside Fernandinho and Toure pushed up behind Aguero. Silva will go out to the left wing, with Navas on the opposite side.

Another blow for City, with Sterling still limping after that earlier foul by Mata. His return to the starting line-up after three matches on the bench ends after 25 minutes as Pellegrini sends on Fernando.

Raheem Sterling
AFP

After a delay that allows Sterling to receive treatment, Silva flashes a dangerous free-kick to the back post. Demichelis gets up above Rojo but can only direct his header wide of De Gea's right-hand post.

Confidence flowing for United now as Hart is forced to parry a fierce drive from Martial. Demichelis looking every bit of his 35 years so far.

Against the run of play, the visitors draw first blood. Rashford's form had died away somewhat after his electric introduction to senior football with consecutive braces against FC Midtjylland and Arsenal, but he shines again here.

Played in nicely by Mata, the 18-year-old academy graduate leaves Demichelis embarrassed before slotting coolly under Hart. Great goal.

Marcus Rashford
AFP

Goal: Manchester City 0-1 Manchester United (Marcus Rashford)

Gael Clichy concedes a corner during a tangle with Rashford. Joe Hart punches Daley Blind's second delivery clear.

At the other end, Navas forces a strong save from the legs of David de Gea after Yaya Toure, Silva and Sterling combine to good effect. Marcos Rojo and Schneiderlin had conspired to give the ball away very easily inside their own half.

Chris Smalling, sent off on his last visit to this ground, enters the book after just 10 minutes for a series of small fouls that finished with a shirt tug on Sergio Aguero.

The first half chance of the afternoon falls to Navas, who strikes wide after David Silva had released Sterling on the counter. Not a great defensive header from Darmian.

United are lining up with Jesse Lingard in a central role behind lone striker Marcus Rashford. Juan Mata right and Anthony Martial is occupying the left flank.

Darmian cautiously concedes a very early corner following positive work from Jesus Navas but it's easily cleared.

We are underway in the Manchester derby. A hearty rendition of 'Blue Moon' rings around the stadium.

While we await kick-off at the Etihad Stadium, here's a quick reminder of what has happened elsewhere in the Premier League this afternoon...

In a Tyne-Wear derby that looked set to have a huge impact on the relegation battle, Aleksandar Mitrovic's late header cancelled out a Jermain Defoe volley and rescued a point for Newcastle.

At St Mary's, Liverpool suffered a dramatic collapse after goals from Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge had handed them a 2-0 half-time lead over Southampton. The Saints turned it around, however, with Sadio Mane bouncing back from a missed penalty to notch a brace either side of Graziano Pelle's effort.

Tottenham also host Bournemouth at 16.00 GMT.

Otamendi does not feature for City, who partner Martin Demichelis with Eliaquim Mangala at centre-back.

Pellegrini makes two more changes to the side that ground out a dull goalless draw with Kiev as Raheem Sterling and Bacary Sagna are preferred to Fernando and Pablo Zabaleta.

Two changes from Van Gaal, who replaces Guillermo Varela and Marouane Fellaini with Matteo Darmian and Morgan Schneiderlin.

Manchester United
AFP

Manchester United: De Gea, Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Rojo, Schneiderlin, Carrick (c), Lingard, Mata, Martial, Rashford

Subs: Romero, Fosu-Mensah, Valencia, Fellaini, Schweinsteiger, Januzaj, Memphis

Manchester City: Hart, Sagna, Demichelis, Mangala, Clichy, Fernandinho, Toure (c), Navas, Sterling, Silva, Aguero

Subs: Caballero, Zabaleta, Kolarov, Fernando, M.Garcia, Bony, Iheanacho

Line-ups to come very soon...

Doubts persist over the fitness of Ander Herrera, who was left out of the Europa League draw at Old Trafford on Thursday night after complaining of a groin issue.

Ashley Young and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson have both returned to first-team training this week, the former having been ruled out for two months. Captain Wayne Rooney, Phil Jones, Luke Shaw and Will Keane feature on Van Gaal's list of definite absentees.

Before the confirmed line-ups filter through, let's quickly assess each club's current injury situation. City are once again facing life without Vincent Kompany after the unlucky skipper sustained yet another calf problem just seven minutes into the goalless draw with Dynamo Kiev in midweek. The Belgian is expected to miss approximately four weeks.

Vincent Kompany
Getty Images

Fellow centre-back Nicolas Otamendi was also withdrawn in the first half of that game having sustained a painful dead leg following a challenge from Vitaliy Buyalskiy. He will be subject to a fitness test before today's derby. Samir Nasri, Kevin de Bruyne and Fabian Delph remain unavailable, although all three are set to feature in a specially-arranged friendly during the forthcoming international break.

Good afternoon and welcome to IBTimes UK's live coverage of the 171st Manchester derby between local rivals City and United from the Etihad Stadium.

These familiar foes had dominated the English football landscape for four seasons before Chelsea's shortlived return to prominence under Jose Mourinho last term, but neither have lived up to expectations in 2015-16. The hosts, who were held to a goalless draw at struggling Norwich last time out, begin today 15 points adrift of leaders Leicester with nine fixtures remaining.

Although Manuel Pellegrini's fourth-place side have played two game less, that gap looks almost insurmountable and they may be more concerned at this stage with just retaining their place in the Champions League shake-up ahead of Pep Guardiola's keenly anticipated arrival this summer.

City have won just one of their last five top-flight outings - a somewhat hollow thumping of rock-bottom Aston Villa - and are being challenged every step of the way by a West Ham side that have made great strides under Slaven Bilic and were a hugely contentious penalty decision away from winning at Stamford Bridge yesterday.

As for United, defeat today would come as a colossal and potentially decisive blow to hopes of clawing their way back into the top four. Insipid and consistently uninspiring under Louis van Gaal, they are four points behind their rivals and suffered a dreadful 1-0 defeat at West Brom earlier this month before a Europa League last-16 exit at the hands of Liverpool.

Breaking team news and live updates to come, so stay right where you are....