Manchester United and Manchester City have shared a goalless draw in the Manchester derby for the first time in five years, with both sides creating few chances in the clash at Old Trafford.
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Both sides made cagey starts to the match, but City came close to opening the scoring with just over 10 minutes gone as Fernandinho played the ball through to Raheem Sterling, but the England international could not find the target from the edge of the box.
The home side were able to dominate the possession as the first half progressed, but could not create anything from a Juan Mata free kick, while Ander Herrera could not get a shot away when Mata played the ball back in a few minutes later.
United started to look more threatening on the attack as the half-hour mark approached, but Wayne Rooney was unable to benefit from Anthony Martial's weaving run forward.
The home side's defenders came under pressure again as the half-time whistle approached, with Kevin de Bruyne curling in a promising delivery from a free kick, only for Bastian Schweinsteiger to head it clear.
De Bruyne almost set up the opening goal again a couple of minutes later after Yaya Toure saw a shot deflected behind for a corner, but the Ivorian's header from the Belgium international's ball back in went wide.
United did get back down the other end just before the break, but Antonio Valencia gave away a free kick, while Rooney saw a cross in from the left flank cleared with ease, leaving the home side without a shot in the opening 45 minutes.
Louis van Gaal's side tried to make a bright start to the second half, and came close to breaking the deadlock when Morgan Schneiderlin tried to tap the ball into an empty net after Chris Smalling nodded the ball down from a corner, but he could not reach it in time.
The hosts continued to look the more likely of the two sides with Marcos Rojo winning the ball back in midfield before providing a through-ball for Mata, but Joe Hart rushed off his line to claim it for City.
Van Gaal made a couple of changes as the final 15 minutes approached to try to find the elusive opening goal, with Jesse Lingard and Marouane Fellaini both coming on for the home side, with the latter trying to make an immediate impact by playing the ball through for Martial, but the Frenchman was unable to cross it back into the box.
Having had few chances in the second half, City tried to finish the match on the front foot, forcing a free kick 30 yards out, but De Bruyne's strike went straight into the wall, while Jesus Navas tried to curl the ball in a couple of minutes later, leaving De Gea with a comfortable save.
The closest United came to opening the scoring was in the 84th minute as Fellaini teed up Martial, who in turn chipped the ball on for Lingard, but the susbstitute's looping finish was kept out by the crossbar.
City immediately piled down the other end as Kelechi Iheanacho proved too strong for Phil Jones, but Rojo got back to stop the Nigerian's finish finding the target.
There was more work for Hart in the City goal shortly after as Fellaini continued to impose himself, heading a long ball forward into the path of Smalling, but the defender's shot was pushed clear by the goalkeeper.
The result lifts City back to the top of the Premier League with a better goal difference than Arsenal, while United remain fourth, just two points behind this afternoon's opponents.
Sian Cowper
