Manchester United 0-0 Man City: Stalemate in Manchester derby as City miss chance to go fourth | OneFootball

Man City would have moved into the top four with victory in the Manchester derby

A Manchester derby that lacked quality ended in a stalemate as Manchester City missed an opportunity to move into fourth place in the Premier League table.

The result does, however, lift Manchester United back into 13th after they had slipped one place before kick-off following Tottenham’s 3-2 win over Southampton.

The 196th Manchester derby was the teams' most low key clash in years, with the visitors fighting for a Champions League spot rather than a fifth straight title at a side needing to win the Europa League to save their season.

United and City - sat 13th and fifth in the table respectively - produced a subdued, scrappy and scoreless clash that lacked the drama seen in December, when Ruben Amorim's men secured a last-gasp 2-1 turnaround at the Etihad Stadium.

Substitute Joshua Zirkzee had United's best chance and Omar Marmoush looked most likely to secure an away win in Kevin De Bruyne's final Manchester derby before ending his medal-laden decade with City.

Both sides only managed one shot on target apiece in the first half, with Andre Onana dealing with a De Bruyne attempt with more ease than a corner that he flapped at without being punished.

United cries for handball fell on deaf ears as Ruben Dias stopped a low Dorgu cross with an unorthodox chested block, with Onana twice called upon at the other end to deny Marmoush.

First United's goalkeeper stopped him scoring a free-kick he had won, then he dealt with sun in his eyes as the Egypt international met a cleared corner with a thumping effort.

Amorim attempted to change the dynamics from the bench, with a double substitution so close to working in the 77th minute. Ederson superbly stopped Zirkzee from striking in Dorgu's cross, with fellow introduction Mason Mount's follow-up blocked by Rico Lewis.

Garnacho shot wide and a Casemiro penalty claim was ignored as play wound down on a forgettable encounter.