Manchester United enjoyed a perfect start to Michael Carrick’s interim spell as head coach, recording a deserved 2–0 victory over fierce rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford.
Second-half strikes from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu sealed the win, giving United only their second victory in eight matches across all competitions and providing a much-needed boost in confidence.
United began the contest with a level of intensity and aggression that had been absent in recent weeks, feeding off the energy of a vibrant home crowd. They came close inside the opening minutes when Harry Maguire struck the post, setting the tone for a dominant first half.
City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was kept busy, producing a series of excellent saves to deny Patrick Dorgu, Amad Diallo, and Casemiro in quick succession. United also saw two goals correctly ruled out for offside before the break, despite their sustained pressure.
The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 65th minute through a swift counter-attack. Bruno Fernandes surged forward before releasing a perfectly weighted pass to Bryan Mbeumo, who calmly swept the ball into the bottom corner with a first-time finish.
Manchester City struggled to respond, lacking their usual sharpness and failing to bring Erling Haaland into the game. United capitalised again 14 minutes from time when substitute Matheus Cunha delivered a dangerous cross that Patrick Dorgu turned in off the post to double the lead.
The result lifts Manchester United into the Premier League’s top four, strengthening their push for Champions League qualification. For City, the defeat is a major setback in their title defence and could allow league leaders Arsenal to open up a nine-point gap at the summit.
United will now look to build on this momentum as the race for the top four intensifies.
