Aguero strikes as City beat 10-man Man Utd in derby

A goal by Sergio Aguero gave Manchester City a 1-0 victory against neighbours Manchester United, who played with 10 men for more than 50 minutes on Sunday.

Defender Chris Smalling was sent off seven minutes before halftime for two yellow cards and in the 63rd minute Aguero scored from a pass by Gael Clichy.

City seemed at that stage to be well on top but United suddenly revived to push them all the way without being able to find an equalising goal at the Etihad Stadium.

The win left the home side in third place with 20 points in the Premier League, six points behind leaders Chelsea, and seven ahead of United, who dropped to ninth place.

FULL TIME

Man City 1 (Aguero 63") Man Utd 0

It's the fourth consecutive derby win for City.

Despite their spirited fightback in the second half, 10-man United could not prevent their worst start to a season in 24 years.

City go third after this win while United drop to ninth  having just 13 points after 10 matches.

90+1" Toure can't keep a header down on target after a lovely cross from Fernandinho.

90" There are five minutes of added time.

89" Toure is just wide off the far post after a lovely turn.

87" Rooney and Hart clash in the area.

85" Fellaini goes close heading a Di Maria corner over.

84" City decide to close the game withdrawing Aguero and bringing on Fernandinho.

82" Wilson comes on for Van Persie with United having turned it on.

80" Di Maria sends a free kick sailing over after being brought down with a sliding tackle by Fernando who is booked.

78" Fellaini fails to make good with a header after beating Kompany.

77" Rooney burst through several defenders before van Persie and Di Maria rattle the City defence with De Gea making a superb save finally.

75" Navas hits the outside of the post as City throw everything at the United defence and threaten on the counter.

72" Double substitution for City as Dzeko comes in for Jovetic.

71" Van Persie forces a save from Hart with a superb shot at the enar post.

70" Milner makes ways for Nasri.

67" De Gea forced to make another save after a lovely shot by Jovetic.

Man City 1 (Aguero 63") Man Utd 0

63" GOAL! Aguero scores with a clinical left-foot finish after Toure splits the defence and Clichy assists with a beautiful pass.

61" Di Maria's lovely free kick sails just over Fellaini.

60" YELLOW! Aguero is denied a penalty again after being nicked by Carrick while Demichellis is booked for a sliding challenge on Di Maria.

57" United are being stretched in defence.

55" Another penalty appeal for a handball is turned down as Blind blocks a corner kick.

52" United's woes continues as Rojo is stretchered after his shoulder has popped out and replaced by Paddy NcNair.

51" Toure makes a break but is chased down by Rooney and stopped with a fair challenge.

50" City have two penalty appeals turned away  before Pablo Zabaleta slams a shot over.

47" Navas floats a dangerous cross into the United penalty area but it is cleared by Rojo.

46" City get the second session under way.

HALF TIME

Man City 0 Man Utd 0

45+3" City are denied a penalty on the stroke of half time after Toure is brought crashing to the ground by Rojo as he is about to shoot after a beautiful pass over the top of the United defence by Jovetic..

45" It's all City at the moment with United being down to 10 men.

43" Navas wins a corner and United are battling to clear the pressure.

40" The resulting free-kick is whipped across the six-yard box with Kompany nearly heading it after De Gea missed the ball.

38" RED! Smalling has to go after scything down Milner after having got booker earlier for charging down De Gea.

37" Van Persie has yet to bring the game alive for United.

34" Rooney is appearing to play a central midfield role dishing out a lovely pass to Januzaj who fails to provide the finish.

31" Di Maria's terrific free kick lands dangerous in the six-yard box after van Persie is fouled but Hart eventually gathers.

29" Toure's free kick sails harmlessly over the bar.

27" YELLOW! Blind is the first to be booked after a clumsy challenge on Toure.

20" David de Gea blocks the ominous advance of Aguero twice in quick succession to deny City.

15" United are enjoying a spell of possession but are finding it difficult to penetrate City's strong back line.

12" City get a free kick near the halfway line after Shaw commits a foul on Spaniard Navas.

10" Adnan Januzaj has the first clear chance of the day but shooting a header from van Persie wide under pressure from Kompany.

9" Sergio Aguero spells danger with his first involvement beating the offside trap to run on to James Milner's lovely threaded pass, skips inside Valencia but his low shot is punched away by David De Gea.

6" Angel Di Maria skips away from a defender nicely but is stopped in his tracks by Demichelis.

4" Jesus Navas beats Luke Shaw easily but the City winger's cross is poor.

2" Marcos Rojo has a header saved by Joe Hart inside a minute.

1" United get the 168th Manchester Derby underway and Van Persie is fouled by Demichellis.

Aleksandar Kolarov has been limping after taking part in the Man City warm-up.

Pellegrini may be forced to make a late change.

Manchester City have won five and lost just one of the last six Premier League Manchester derbies.

"We have made individual mistakes in the last two games and missed chances. We go to win three points today. We must be aggressive, there is not much difference between the big sides," said Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini.

Rafael misses the derby after picking up an injury on Thursday while the big news from Etihad is that United striker Rooney returns from suspension.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said: "Rafael is injured in training so I play with Antonio Valencia at right-back. For me it is not difficult to have Wayne Rooney back. He is my captain and is very important to our team.

"Juan Mata was difficult to leave out but you have to choose - Marouane Fellaini has scored and given assists so he is important also. My philosophy is always the same. We want to dominate."

TEAMS

Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Kolarov, Jesus Navas, Toure, Fernando, Milner, Aguero, Jovetic.

Subs: Sagna, Nasri, Dzeko, Caballero, Clichy, Fernandinho, Boyata.

Man Utd: De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Rojo, Shaw, Blind, Fellaini, Januzaj, Di Maria, van Persie, Rooney.

Subs: Mata, Lindegaard, Carrick, Ander Herrera, Fletcher, McNair, Wilson.

STAT ATTACK

Man City are undefeated in 21 of their last 23 home matches in the Premier League.

Man United have failed to win their last six away matches in the Premier League.

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