Manchester United vs. Manchester City: Score, Grades, Reaction from Derby

Manchester United heaped more misery upon rivals Manchester City with a 4-2 victory in a thrilling Manchester derby on Sunday at Old Trafford.

City started brightly and took a deserved lead through Sergio Aguero in the eighth minute, but United turned the match around before half-time as Ashley Young and Marouane Fellaini found the back of the net. Juan Mata made it 3-1 in the 67th minute, and Chris Smalling headed in the fourth six minutes later before Aguero added a consolation for City in the closing moments.

Despite a poor recent run of form, the visitors had entered Sunday's encounter with a four-match winning streak in the derby. But after this latest defeat—their eighth in 14 matches across all competitions, per The Times' James Ducker—both City and their manager could find themselves in trouble.

Once considered Chelsea's only legitimate challenger for the Premier League title, City now find themselves adrift in fourth place, 12 points behind Chelsea—who have a match in hand—and four behind rivals United.

For Manuel Pellegrini, who won a title last season in his debut campaign with the club, it's a potentially damaging defeat that could prompt City's free-spending owners to make a change. After benefiting from heavy investment in the squad in recent years, City likely will require a roster overhaul following a disappointing 2015.

United, by contrast, have been one of the Premier League's most in-form teams this calendar year. Following their derby triumph, Louis van Gaal's men have won six straight league matches and are in third place with 65 points.

Up next for United is a match at league leaders Chelsea on Saturday. City host West Ham next Sunday.

City made a strong start to the match, putting United under pressure from the first whistle. The visitors' initial chance came in the sixth minute, when Jesus Navas beat the offside trap and ran onto Martin Demichelis' long pass from City's half. Navas bore down on goal from the right flank and forced David de Gea into a save at his near post with a low shot.

The opening goal followed two minutes later. Holding possession on the left, James Milner spotted David Silva's run into the box with a precise pass, allowing Silva to work his way to the byline and centre for Aguero. Unmarked, Aguero only had to tap in from close range for a 1-0 City lead.

The goal was completely deserved, but the lead lasted only six minutes.

In the 14th minute, De Gea played a long clearance into City's half, with the ball finding its way to Ander Herrera on the left. Herrera crossed into the goalmouth for Young, whose initial effort was blocked by Gael Clichy. But the ball trickled back to Young, who swept into the net for the equaliser.

The frantic pace of the opening minutes continued, and in the 27th minute, United went ahead. Young played the role of provider this time, trading passes with Daley Blind on the left before lofting a cross to the back post. Lurking off the shoulder of the last defender, Fellaini nodded his header in off Joe Hart's arm to give United a 2-1 lead.

Replays suggested Fellaini might have been marginally offside, but referee Mark Clattenburg allowed the goal to stand.

Clattenburg was involved in another potentially pivotal moment late in the first half as City captain Vincent Kompany flew into a high challenge on Blind. Kompany escaped with a yellow card, though replays suggested he easily could have seen red.

Kompany made no further contribution, leaving the game at half-time in favour of substitute Eliaquim Mangala.

Jon Super/Associated Press

United created the first danger of the second half, coming close to scoring twice in the space of mere moments in the 53rd minute. First, Hart dived to his right to push away a Wayne Rooney free-kick directed toward the top corner. Following a scramble in the box, Hart saved again to keep out Michael Carrick's bouncing shot.

Fellaini escaped potential punishment in the 57th minute after an elbow to Demichelis' head. Clattenburg blew his whistle for a foul but did not produce a card.

City were beginning to look ragged, and United extended their lead in the 67th minute following a fine team move. Receiving a pass in midfield, Rooney turned and played a pass to Mata as the Spaniard streaked down the pitch. After dribbling in on goal on the left flank, Mata nutmegged Hart with a low shot to put United ahead, 3-1.

The goal had more than a hint of offside to it, but it was little more than United deserved. Six minutes later, the hosts added another—and this time, there was no hint of offside. Young served as provider again, curling a free-kick into the danger area from the left flank. Smalling, played onside by the out-of-position Mangala, nodded in for United's fourth.

United were all but assured of victory, but City managed to pull a goal back in the 89th minute. Substitute Frank Lampard sliced open the defence with a pass into the box for Pablo Zabaleta, who pulled back into the goalmouth for Aguero. From there, the Argentine finished first-time off De Gea's outstretched hand.

The goal made for a few nervy moments as the match headed to stoppage time, but United were able to see out the win comfortably, claiming victory against their heated rivals for the first time since December 2012.

Grades

Starting XI	Rating
Substitutes	Rating
David De Gea	6.1
Antonio Valencia	7.5
Chris Smalling	7.6
Phil Jones	7.9
Daley Blind	6.9
Michael Carrick	7.2
Juan Mata	8.4
Ander Herrera	7.8
Marouane Fellaini	8.3
Ashley Young	8.4
Wayne Rooney	7.4
Marcos Rojo (for Jones, 75')	6.1
Angel Di Maria (for Mata, 81')	6.0
Radamel Falcao (for Fellaini, 83')	5.9

Starting XI	Rating
Substitutes	Rating
Joe Hart	6.0
Pablo Zabaleta	6.8
Vincent Kompany	6.6
Martin Demichelis	6.7
Gael Clichy	6.5
Jesus Navas	6.4
Yaya Toure	6.6
Fernandinho	7.1
James Milner	6.0
David Silva	6.4
Sergio Aguero	7.9
Eliaquim Mangala (for Kompany, 45')	6.5
Samir Nasri (for Milner, 63')	6.1
Frank Lampard (for Navas, 74')	6.4

Reaction

Manchester United goalscorer Juan Mata, via BBC Sport: 

"

In the first 10 or 15 minutes City were brilliant but after that we showed character and came back. It was a massive result and everyone from United is happy.

The atmosphere was crazy; it's something we will never forget. We have six games to go and have to keep going. It's one more step towards the Champions League, it's a big win and a boost to the confidence. But Arsenal are a great team and City and Liverpool will stay fighting until the end.

"

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal, via BBC Sport:

"

It's three points! We are four points ahead of fourth in the table and I am very happy for the fans. I have seen what it means for them. They always support us when the results were not good.

It's the best atmosphere I have seen here. A fantastic result. I must bring Michael Carrick off the pitch with an injury which was a bit stupid from me as some players didn't know we only had 10 men. That was not so smart!

We started very badly. It was not Manchester United, we were very nervous. I don't know why. We had no pressure on the ball. I don't know why. But when we scored the goal, from that moment we had more confidence.

The second half was much better.

"

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini, via BBC Sport:

"

I think they were the best team. We started very well and in the first 20 minutes we could have controlled the game. After the second goal we lost the way we were playing and United scored more goals.

I don't understand why a team only plays so well in the first 20 minutes. We dominated, created chances; we had the ball. At 1-1 United started growing and their third goal gave them the confidence they did not have before.

It is not just one problem; the same team played well for 20 minutes. Maybe it's a lack of class at this moment. I don't know.

"

Follow @MiguelCominguez