0 Manchester United
0 Manchester City
by Simon Williams
at Old Trafford

THE 170th Manchester derby ended goalless yesterday as both United and City played out the first draw in the fixture at Old Trafford for 10 years.

In fact, there were only two shots on target between the teams that took just under £500 million to assemble.

The first shot in anger came in the 82nd minute when City’s Jesus Navas effort was easily held by David De Gea.

United came close to breaking the deadlock moments later when Jesse Lingard latched on to a wonderfully lofted ball into the box by Anthony Martial only for his effort to hit the crossbar.

Joe Hart then denied Chris Smalling the winning goal when he tipped the defender’s low effort around the post in the dying embers of the game.

But a point was enough to send the Citizens back to the top of the table above Arsenal on goal difference.

The play went back and forth in the first half but with no side troubling either keeper.

United had a penalty appeal turned down by referee Mark Clattenburg inside the first 10 minutes. However replays showed that any decision would have been harsh as the infringement was outside the area.

Yaya Toure had a good chance in the closing stages but headed over the bar from a Kevin De Bruyne corner before failing to make contact with a low cross from the Belgian moments later.

But the half ended with neither side having a shot on target — the home side failed to have a shot at all.

The second half started in a similar fashion to the first with the hosts being denied a penalty, this time Raheem Sterling making contact with Ander Herrera in the box. But again referee Clattenburg waved away any protests.

Moments later United came close to breaking the deadlock when Juan Mata’s corner was headed back across the danger area by Smalling but missed Morgan Schneiderlin by inches — any touch would have resulted in a goal.

Navas tested De Gea from distance in with just under 10 minutes remaining before the home side nearly stole the points in the closing five minutes.

First Lingard’s effort from six yards hit the crossbar after a superb ball into the box from Martial, before Smalling’s first-time shot was saved by the strong hand of Hart to give his side a share of the spoils.