Edin Dzeko scored twice and Yaya Toure bagged a third as Manchester City moved to within three points of Premier League leaders Chelsea by ruthlessly disposing of neighbours United. Dzeko put the visitors in front after less than fifty seconds with a simple tap in and completed his brace after half time after running into the United box unmarked to convert Samir Nasri's cross. And Toure added the gloss his side's performance deserved on 90 minutes with a drive into the bottom corner as the champions crashed to their second defeat of the season to their derby rivals. United, struggling under new manager David Moyes, were subjected to another sobering evening at Old Trafford less than a fortnight on from their heavy home defeat to Liverpool. And things weren't much better here as their once 'noisy neighbours' proved the balance in power has well and truly shifted in Manchester. City went into this game as the favourites and wasted no time at all in stamping their authority on proceedings when Dzeko tapped in after Nasri hit the post less than a minute in. You feared a heavy scoreline similar to the 6-1 mauling imposed by City on United at this ground in 2011 was on the cards, and Moyes's men were clearly rattled in the opening exchanges. Dzeko could and probably should have added a second 17 minutes in, his shot parried by David de Gea, and it was almost a case of damage limitation as United went into the break a goal down. Moyes made a positive change after the restart, replacing Tom Cleverley with the more attack-minded Shinji Kagawa, but it did little to reverse his side's fortunes. It took just over 10 minutes for City to double their lead, Dzeko adding his second of the evening after meandering into the United box unmarked to sweep in Nasri's cross. United then gave the home fans a flicker of hope when Danny Welbeck was denied by Joe Hart with a skilful flick at goal, but it was the closest they came to troubling the visitors. Moyes's side had never looked like taking anything from this game and Toure made the scoreline look a bit more realistic when his shot from the edge of the box nestled into the bottom corner. United could have few complaints, and as referee Michael Oliver blew his whistle on full time, yet more questions will be asked of Moyes's shaky tenure following another damning defeat.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
