Manchester United denied as City hold firm in derby draw

Manchester United were held 0-0 by Manchester City in a disappointing derby draw at Old Trafford.

The first half was played at a fair pace, but neither side was able to create clear cut chances. Neither side was troubled, and neither 'keeper had a save to make.

The best chances of the half fell to Yaya Toure, whose looping header from a corner went just wide, and who spooned a shot inside the box after a great pass from Kevin De Bruyne. In the second half, United should have had a penalty when Raheem Sterling tripped Ander Herrera, and from the corner awarded Chris Smalling headed just wide.

There were similarly few chances in the second half, and Anthony Martial almost set up the winner when Jesse Lingard forced Joe Hart into tipping a shot onto the bar, and Chris Smalling almost squeezed in a shot at the near post.

City appeared to come for the draw, and that saw them return to the top of the table.

PRE-MATCH - Juan Mata is called back for United, and Vincent Kompany starts for City.

41' - TOURE HEADER - De Bruyne takes, and Toure goes close with a header that loops just wide of the top corner.

44' - TOURE SHOT - De Bruyne picks out Toure in the box with a great pass, and he clips his shot over the bar. A wasted chance.

51' - SMALLING HEADER - Herrera is tripped obviously in the box by Sterling, and the ref gives a corner. The ball comes to the back post for Smalling who heads, and it's just wide of the far post.

84' - LINGARD CHANCE - Martial lifts in a great pass into the box for Lingard, and he loops a ball over Hart that he tips against the bar.

88' - HART SAVE - Fellaini knocks down a free kick to Smalling, and his shot is palmed wide by Hart at the near post.

Neither side had a shot on target in the first half.

Wayne Rooney completed only 55% of his passes, had no shots on target, created no chances and lost possession more than any other player.

How long can Wayne Rooney keep his career? It is not a case of him remaining a Manchester United player, or the captain, or an England player. He is now so staggeringly ineffective that there have to be serious concerns over whether he is capable of sustaining a career beyond 2016. And yet he retains his manager's confidence and played a full 90 minutes.

Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester City): He had so little to worry about with Rooney that he seemed to start playing at left-back as well, such was the time on his hands. When he did, he was an effective presence, tackling early and preventing United taking the chance on the right wing.

Manchester United: De Gea 6, Valencia 6, Rojo 6, Smalling 6, Jones 6, Schweinsteiger 6, Schneiderlin 6, Herrera 6, Mata 6, Martial 7, Rooney 4. Subs: Fellaini 7, Lingard 7, Darmian 6.

Manchester City: Hart 7, Sagna 6, Kolarov 6, Otamendi 7, Kompany 6, Fernando 6, Fernandinho 6, Toure 6, Sterling 6, De Bruyne 6, Bony 5. Subs: Navas 6, Demichelis 6, Iheanacho 6.