Terrace Talk - Man United: Organisation without inspiration in dullest derby in years

Manchester City's Rodri (left) and Manchester United's Scott McTominay battle for the ball. Picture: Phil Noble

Pep Guardiola walked off deep in conversation with Michael Carrick. As the animated Manchester City manager showed more signs of life than the preceding game, perhaps he was reflecting on the role both used to play.

Previous meetings of the two halves of Manchester been known for Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen, Sergio Aguero and Mario Balotelli, but this was the derby of the defensive midfielder. The defining figures were Guardiola and Carrick’s successors, men charged with shielding the respective defences. Fernandinho and Rodri, Scott McTominay and Fred brought positional discipline. They were double pivots for sides who each only permitted two shots on target, safety blankets who smothered the drama this occasion often brings. The stalemate was an advertisement for their merits and an indictment of their managers.