City suffer as Marwood and Nasri duck challenges

One reason why Alex Ferguson is the most successful manager in the history of the English league is that he seldom makes the same mistake twice.

Last season, Manchester United’s defensive approach away to Manchester City ended in failure. Ferguson’s team selection for yesterday’s match made it plain that if United were going to fail again, they would fail differently and City became the seventh side to score twice against United in the league this season and still lose.

This time it was Roberto Mancini who confounded his supporters with a bizarre approach to the game. All season he has been unable to decide between Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko as the best foil for Sergio Aguero. The choice yesterday was even more difficult than usual. United had looked so vulnerable from set-pieces in their 4-3 win over Reading that Dzeko’s aerial strength was a big point in his favour. On the other hand, Tevez is a world class matchwinner who would be determined not to lose against his former team.