Manchester derby: Man City honour Ricky Hatton as Erling Haaland punishes Man Utd

The 197th Manchester derby was veiled in sadness as a city came together in a state of shock from the sudden passing of one of its own. 

News broke earlier on Sunday that Ricky Hatton, known as 'The Hitman', had been found dead at his Hyde home at the age of 46.

It was horribly sad news for all who remember the boxer's heroics and journey to world titles. 

Hatton, a true working-class hero and local boy done good, with blue blood.

The pre-match tribute was fitting, and his beloved City would go on to honour his name, writes Sports News Blitz’s Robert Bore.

City set the early tone

The warning signs were there inside the opening minute as Erling Haaland went close when flashing a low strike across the face of Altay Bayindir's goal.  

Bayindir was given the start despite the signing of Belgian youngster Senne Lammens and following the welcome departure of Andre Onana from the country.

It felt like it might be a busy afternoon for the Turkey international, and maybe more a case of protecting Lammens from a debut battering and a baptism of fire at the Boo Camp.

United’s breakaway hope

For the visitors, it seemed Ruben Amorim's hopes for success would be on the break, with Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbuemo the portals.

Mbuemo, in particular, had enjoyed a good start to his United career with Amorim playing to his strengths.

The Reds had made the most off-ball runs in behind their opponent’s defensive line in the Premier League before the weekend's games (131), with Mbeumo responsible for 54 of those.

The pair, along with Benjamin Sesko at the spearhead, started in a lively enough fashion as United rode out the opening 10 or so minutes unscathed, although the Slovenian's first effort was handed easily by City debutante Gianluigi Donnarumma.

But it was all undone after 17 minutes.

Jeremy Doku did the damage, dancing through the United defence and towards the by-line. His initial cross was blocked, but fell back kindly in his pat,h and the recycled, delicate centre was met by the head of the onrushing Phil Foden who steered it home unopposed for his seventh derby goal.

A bit of brilliance from the Belgian and that was that.

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Midfield imbalance shows

Bayndir did well to keep out Tijjani Reijnders as City went in search of a second, and they were guilty of over-playing when Haaland broke from midway and fed Bernardo Silva who came back inside for his striker and United cleared.

But United hadn't managed to threaten for a good 10 minutes or so and were quite obviously outnumbered in the middle as Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte struggled to get near blue shirts.

Sesko did show a little of what he is about, running in behind the City defence but Donnarumma blocked, although it was pulled back for handball.

Patrick Dorgu then did well to buy a free-kick that Fernandes put straight at the City keeper.

Flat derby atmosphere

But what was most striking was the lack of a real derby atmosphere. I mean, there were less empty blue seats than normal as the Reds were in town, but where was the blood and thunder?

I say there were fewer empty seats, but City had cunningly covered a huge section, the top tier of the North Stand behind one of the goals, with a banner.

But the point remained, it's a bloody derby. Could someone in red please go and smash someone!

Haaland delivers again

All being said, United were still in it at the break and were in the same spot as last season when Amad nicked a winner after being behind at half-time - the only time City had been beaten after being ahead on the turn in 51 home Premier League matches.

United started well, forcing an early corner after Mbuemo, Amad and Dorgu combined, but Haaland cleared three consecutive centres away from his own goal, almost as many touches as he'd had in the opposition box. It would be a telling statistic come full-time.  

His next touch, however, would be a goal.

Poignantly, City's own hitman was slipped in by Doku after Nico O'Reilly had nutmegged his marker and Foden fed the Belgian, Haaland holding off Luke Shaw and lifting the ball over the onrushing Bayindir who, maybe harshly, should have done better.

He should have had another moment after as United's defence turned into keystone cops.

Bayindir played out a fraction short to Ugarte, who, in turn, left Matthijs de Ligt even shorter as he played back towards his own goal, and City nicked it.

The Norwegian was in again but unable to beat the post, and United survived the afters as Pep held his shiny head in his hands.

Donnarumma stands tall

United almost pulled one back as Mbuemo unleashed a fierce volley that looked every inch a goal until Donnarumma's palm pushed it wide.

It was some stop from the big 26-year-old Italian who might be one of the best number ones in the world, but has a hairline even Prince William would take the mick out of.

Amorim rolled his dice, Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire introduced for Noussair Mazraoui and Leny Yoro.

However, it mattered not. United pressed self-destruct.

Errors compound United’s misery

Maguire and Shaw got themselves into a mess - two England internationals - contriving to make even Sunday League defenders wince.

Maguire's poor ball dropped straight to Bernardo Silva, who couldn't believe his luck as all he had to do was loft the ball into the United half with Haaland stood two yards onside but closest man to Bayindir's goal.

If it were not so poor, it would have been comical as the Nordic machine duly raced with the ball towards Bayindir before sliding it into the corner as Maguire trailed in his slipstream.

Reijnders profited from more pathetic defending as Ugarte and Maguire couldn't figure out who should go to Haaland, who had the easiest task to release the Dutchman, but he fired wide of the far post when it should have been four.

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No fight in United

Should we have been surprised, really?

This is a chunk of the United side who were beaten on pens at Grimsby and who struggled to see off Burnley last time out - minus one of their brightest early-season sparks in Matheus Cunha. At least he also looks like he's up for a fight.

The stats don't lie, with 80+ minutes of a Manchester derby gone, there had been seven fouls each team and no bookings. And it showed.

I didn't have the heart to check the full-time stats, but it was the 57th Premier League derby and the first of those not to have a yellow or red card.

The gulf laid bare

United did keep going. Mbuemo curled one wide and saw a fierce Amad cross-cum-shot deflect wide off of the former Brentford man.

Casemiro, on for Ugarte, should maybe have scored at the far post from Fernandes's wild shot. Dorgu then spooned one over the bar.

It was the story of the game. One side confident, with a game plan and shape and clinical in front of the goal.

The visitors were wasteful and, in the key moments, architects of their own downfall with schoolboy efficiency.

The gulf, there for all to see, particularly with Rodri back in the City engine room and doing Rodri things.

Guardiola even had the luxury of hooking the Portuguese after 76 minutes to rest up for tougher tasks. An indignity in itself.

Our own Portuguese talisman was unnoticeable, a noticeable difference.

So what does this all mean? Well, it means we are still a bit shit really and with Chelsea up next on Saturday night, what price a Garnacho winner?

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