Manchester United vs. Manchester City: Score, Reaction for 2016 Manchester Derby

Manchester City issued a huge statement of intent in the first Manchester derby of the season, as Pep Guardiola's men produced an imperious display to beat their rivals 2-1 at Old Trafford.

Kevin De Bruyne got the ball rolling 14 minutes in with a well-taken strike, before Kelechi Iheanacho instinctively doubled City's lead 10 minutes before the break.

Manchester United reduced the arrears ahead of the interval through Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but Jose Mourinho's men couldn't find an equaliser, and City stay at the top of the Premier League.

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In a pulsating first half, City started in style by taking the game to United. A buoyant Old Trafford crowd soon became jittery and nervous, as their former "noisy neighbours" moved in for the kill.

City got the goal their impressive football deserved just inside 15 minutes, though it wasn't quite in the style you'd expect. Rather than playing intricate, tiki-taka football, the Citizens relied on a route-one move to get on the scoresheet.

Aleksandar Kolarov launched the ball long toward the City front men, Iheanacho won the header and De Bruyne stole in ahead of Daley Blind before finishing smartly past David De Gea.

The goal was nothing more than City deserved, though football writer Miguel Delaney was quick to slam Blind for the part he played in the goal:

Many would have expected a United backlash after going a goal down, but City wanted more and continued to pile the pressure on De Gea's goal.

Raheem Sterling caused all kinds of problems on the flanks, while Antonio Valencia was found wanting on more than one occasion down the City left.

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The game was there for the taking for City as they launched attack after attack with United left trying to catch their breath, and it wasn't long before the visitors doubled their lead.

Thanks to further sloppy United defending, the ball fall to the ever-impressive De Bruyne, and when his shot came back off the inside of the left post, Iheanacho was on hand six yards out to tap home.

At 2-0, it looked as if it was going to be a cricket score at the wrong Old Trafford, and the Mail on Sunday's Oliver Holt was one of many who praised City's brilliance:

But just when you thought City were going to go on out of sight, debutant goalkeeper Claudio Bravo gifted United a route back into the match.

Paul Pogba lofted a high ball into the area on a free-kick, and Bravo clumsily flapped at it before Ibrahimovic powered the ball home on the half-volley.

Bravo was brought into the side, replacing Joe Hart, for his ability on the floor, but Gary Lineker jested that the England stopper wouldn't have made such a mistake:

United could have been 4-0 down at the break, but the Red Devils found themselves in the company of Mourinho with their hopes still alive. The difference in attitude was clear when the teams emerged for the second half.

United pressed high up the pitch and gave the City back line—especially the shaky Bravo—plenty to think about. Bleacher Report UK joked about Mourinho's half-time talk:

The wisecracks almost rang true just minutes into the second half, though. Bravo fancied his chances taking on substitute Marcus Rashford but overran the ball, and Wayne Rooney's eyes lit up as he went for a 50-50 ball with the goalkeeper but just came off worse.

Plenty of fans called for a penalty for Bravo's lunge, but referee Mark Clattenburg was unmoved.

With 69 minutes on the clock, three corners of Old Trafford thought United had found an equaliser. Rashford's shot found its way into the back of Bravo's net, but the ball had been clipped by an offside Ibrahimovic on the way through.

City were limited to chances from counter-attacks, though they came close to making it 3-1 on 74 minutes.

Substitute Leroy Sane marauded into the United half and slipped an inch-perfect pass through to De Bruyne, whose shot hit the inside of the post and ran across the goal line but went out for a goal kick.

United continued to press for an equaliser deep into the second half. A dose of Fergie Time drama was required, but United couldn't find a way past their rivals.

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Mourinho's first defeat in charge of Manchester United wasn't unwarranted. Guardiola's men were impeccable in the opening 40 minutes, and were it not for a goalkeeping calamity, they would have won by a more comfortable scoreline.

City have matches against AFC Bournemouth and Swansea City to come later in the month. Can they stay the course at the top of the tree? Based on Saturday's performance, they can.

Reaction

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Following the game, Man of the Match De Bruyne told Sky Sports his side adjusted well to United's change of style in the second half and deserved the three points (via BBC Sport):

"

It feels very good. We started the game with intensity. Both teams showed their quality. The second half was more difficult—they played powerfully and with long balls. I think we just missed the third goal in the second half.

The game changed after their goal in the first half. We were excellent. After the first 15 minutes in the second half, we came back stronger and had to adapt to their style of play.

For the fans it is worth more than three points—for us we just have to maintain the same. The fans will celebrate tonight.

"

On the other side of the city, midfield substitute Ander Herrera said that though United are hurting from the defeat, they're still confident of being in the title race:

"

It is disappointing for us. We are now not happy. We have lost a derby in front of our fans, and it is painful. We have to be balanced in our analysis. This is the first game we have not played the best. We have crossed a lot of balls and put them under pressure.

We have to take some good things. The attitude and spirit in the second half was fantastic. City will lose points as well. We are three points off top, and we want to be champions.

We didn't start good. Every duel went for them. We have to study why that happened. But we have played well so far. This was not our best game, but we created four or five chances to draw the game.

"

United next play Watford in the Premier League, before hosting defending champions Leicester City on Sept. 24.