PEP GUARDIOLA lost the plot and Manchester City simply lost in the most astonishing and unbelievable of Old Trafford derbies.
Little more than ten minutes from time City, for all they had been sub standard, were a goal to the good thanks to Jack Grealish’s header three minutes after coming off the bench.
Yet two goals in three manic minutes turned the whole thing on its head and proved that United might just have a say in the title outcome themselves.
But it came with a huge dose of controversy, as Guardiola – and the entire City team – were left raging at United’s equaliser from Bruno Fernandes.
Marcus Rashford was clearly a yard offside when Casemiro sent a searching long ball into the City half and was rightly flagged as such.
Yet he didn’t touch the ball, allowing Fernandes instead to clip it over Ederson for the leveller – and immediately he urged ref Stuart Attwell to consult with his linesman.
And when VAR official Michael Oliver double checked, Old Trafford went wild as he signalled a goal.
City rightly claimed that Manuel Akanji couldn’t get to the ball simply because of Rashford’s presence regardless of whether he touched it.
Strictly speaking they were right, too. But by the rules of the game, the goal had to stand and on the touchline Guardiola was raging.
Just as he was minutes later when Erling Haaland tumbled in the box and he claimed the Norwegian’s legs had been taken by Casemiro.
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The Brazilian had, in fact, got a crucial toe to the ball and saved the day – and by then United were already in front.
No surprises for the scorer either – Rashford, once again the man on the spot, scoring his eighth goal in a seventh successive game.
Substitute Alejandro Garnacho was the creator, finally getting a cross into the box at the second attempt.
And there was Rashford to poke past Ederson from bang in front for the winner.
City, for all they had good cause to feel aggrieved at United’s leveller, could only blame themselves too.
Once again they were poor, and Arsenal could find themselves with an eight point advantage after tomorrow’s trip to Spurs.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
