Van der Sar blames City for dour draw

EDWIN VAN DER SAR has blasted Manchester City’s negative tactics in Wednesday night’s derby-day bore draw.

The first goal-less stalemate since 2004 was a massive let-down after a huge build-up. It leaves Manchester United four points adrift of leaders Chelsea, with City three points further back in fourth spot.

And for that, United goalkeeper Van der Sar blames City, who he felt did not even try to win the game.

“I don’t think it was a good point for us,” said the Dutch veteran. “The game was quite one-sided. We got the ball on the floor and passed it from player to player but we didn’t create a lot because they shut us off well defensively.

“But City didn’t really come forward and leave their defensive position. They were clearly aiming for a point and hoping for more whereas we really wanted to win and tried to play like that. It didn’t really materialise for us but they were more defensive.”

Nemanja Vidic added: “Our mentality is always to win. Nothing changes. It doesn’t matter whether it is at Manchester City or at Aston Villa on Saturday. Our target is always to win the game and even this time, we are disappointed not to.”

United boss Alex Ferguson could be without three more key men for United’s trip to Aston Villa tomorrow.

Paul Scholes definitely misses the Villa Park encounter after collecting his fifth booking of the season at Eastlands while Ferguson has also ruled young Brazilian defender Rafael out of his plans after he picked up a dead leg.

In addition, Patrice Evra was forced off with an ankle injury that will be assessed before Ferguson finds out what chance the Frenchman has of being involved against Gerard Houllier’s team, although it does not look good.

“Rafael is a dead leg,” revealed Ferguson. “He will miss Saturday, of course, but it is not so bad.

“Patrice has an ankle injury, which we will assess.”

Meanwhile Manchester City assistant manager David Platt has warned his players their hard-earned derby-day point will count for nothing unless they follow it up with victory over Birmingham.

Perplexed by the claims of negativity that accompanied Wednesday night’s goalless draw at Eastlands, City’s dressing room remains hard-nosed enough to recognise the giant strides they are making.

Merely avoiding an injury-time defeat, having suffered three such reverses last term, was a cause for minor celebration, whilst the draw itself means City have now collected seven points from four home games with the traditional ’big-four’ this term. Their only setback came against Arsenal when Dedryck Boyata was sent off after four minutes.

Yet Platt is acutely aware such form will not mean anything unless City can produce the same standards against the Premier League’s lesser lights.

“I worked for Sky for a long period of time,” said Platt. “They have this head-to-head table, which has a big say on who wins the Premier League and who gets into the top two or three.

“But sometimes it doesn’t. You have to make sure you follow up good performances against the bigger teams and win games against the others.

“We must make sure we are concentrated and give the same output, physically and mentally, against every team that is in the Premier League,” said Platt.