# Ten men, one goal, and a derby row that won't die > City lost Phil Foden before half-time, then won Old Trafford anyway with a goal the referees' body later admitted was wrong. - Title: Ten men, one goal, and a derby row that won't die · Dailymail - Summary: City lost Phil Foden before half-time, then won Old Trafford anyway with a goal the referees' body later admitted was wrong. City spent 65 minutes a man down… - Keywords: manchester derby, premier league, var, erling haaland, manchester city, news, entertainment, Ten, men, one, goal, derby - Source: Dailymail — https://dailymail.com/sport/football/article-16121291/Manchester-United-vs-Manchester-City-Premier-League-LIVE.html?ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490&ns_mchannel=rss - Published: 2026-09-13T18:42:01+00:00 - Read time: 3 min - Topics: manchester derby, premier league, var, erling haaland, manchester city, news, entertainment ## Manchester is blue Manchester City beat United 0-1 at Old Trafford after playing more than 65 minutes with ten men. The scoreline looks flat. The evening was anything but. > Manchester City have somehow managed to sneak away from Old Trafford with all three points despite playing with 10 men. ## Foden kicks out Phil Foden was shown a straight red in the first half for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes. Michael Oliver sent him off and City were down to ten before the break. ## Fernandes got away with one Fernandes kicked the City man first, and plenty thought he deserved the same punishment. Roy Keane said the United captain should have walked too. > Many would tell you that Bruno Fernandes was lucky to avoid the same punishment as Foden. ## City changed the plan Maresca told his side to sit lower, guard the ball and counter. Haaland said the squad dropped its usual possession game and waited for one moment. > We had to lay low, which is not ideal. We like to keep the ball, we like to try to score goals. ## The half-time masterstroke Maresca pulled Rayan Cherki at the break and sent on Iliman Ndiaye. The swap reshaped the second half and arguably decided the match. ## Ndiaye led the press Ndiaye won nine duels, drew five fouls and completed three take-ons, the most on the pitch in all three. His defensive work stood out more than his attacking. > He is known for his incredible attacking play, but it was his defensive work that he deserves credit for tonight. ## Anderson ran the midfield Elliot Anderson took 76 touches, completed 45 of 52 passes, won seven duels and made seven line-breaking passes. He carried the extra load once Foden went. > The man was everywhere in that game. ## Money well spent Anderson had a rough City debut in the Community Shield against Arsenal. Weeks later the England international looks like the signing of the window. > It seems like money well spent by City. ## Haaland breaks the deadlock The striker stayed patient all afternoon and finished when the one chance came. It was flagged offside on the pitch, then sent to VAR. > I just had to be there, to try to wait for a chance, and if there's a chance, I had to be ready to execute. ## VAR overturns the flag The Premier League said Haaland was onside, and that Enzo Fernandez, though offside, did not play the ball. The goal stood. > The VAR also deemed that while in an offside position, Fernandez didn't play the ball. ## Martinez was dragged away Lisandro Martinez said he went to mark Fernandez because the City man was right in front of him, which left Haaland unmarked behind. > He was there. I went to him because he was in front of me. That's why Haaland was free at the back. ## Unacceptable, says Martinez United's defender pointed to the pre-season briefings where officials explain the laws to players, then make calls like this one. > We have to go home with this injustice. ## Carrick is confused United's manager called the explanation staggering and said his worry is not the points but what the ruling means for how the game is read. > If that's the interpretation of not interfering in the game now, that's really worrying for me. ## Neville predicts an apology The former United captain said Fernandez was clearly trying to play the ball and putting Martinez off, and that the referees' body would admit the error. > There is no doubt that Enzo is attempting to play the ball and putting Lisandro Martinez off. ## The refs admit the mistake The referees' body later conceded that allowing the goal was wrong. The result, of course, stands. ## Haaland took it personally The striker told Oliver he was offended by the offside call, then looked to the bench, got a thumbs up and started celebrating before the decision landed. > I normally don't go offside, so I told Michael Oliver I took it a bit personally. ## Nine derby goals Haaland is now the outright top scorer in Premier League Manchester derbies with nine, passing Sergio Aguero and Wayne Rooney on eight. ## Sharper with ten Haaland argued the sending off improved City, forcing a directness they should use with a full eleven. > I think we even became sharper with 10 men. That's how we have to play all the time, even with 11 men. ## United fell into the trap With a man advantage for most of the game, United were poor and created little. Ian Ladyman wrote that only one team played smart football, and it was not the home side. > Manchester United were incredibly poor despite having the man advantage. ## Controversial, deserved The winner should not have counted. City still earned the three points with courage, and the celebrations at full time said as much. > A controversial winner, but a well-deserved win. ## Key takeaway City spent 65 minutes a man down and still took all three points, because United never worked out how to hurt them.