Good afternoon! A huge day of Premier League football continues with the headline fixture of the weekend as Manchester City host Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium here. It is a fixture that many may have expected to be a title tussle at the start of the season, but instead now looks like playing a major role in determining who will be involved in Champions League football next season. There is more than just bragging rights up for grabs this afternoon for sure, so let's waste no time and start our bumper two-hour build-up with a look at the hosts...

While this has been a disappointing campaign for both of these clubs, the fact that Manchester City's main focus now is merely securing Champions League football for next season is arguably more surprising than Manchester United's current plight. City began the season in perfect fashion, with five wins and five clean sheets from their opening five games to storm to the top of the table. With Chelsea's early-season form too, it looked as though City might dominate the title race and regain their crown as the champions of England, but they have slipped up just like numerous other big teams this term and head into today's game an incredible 15 points behind leaders Leicester.

They do have two games in hand over the Foxes which should be noted when it comes to that gap, but even with wins in both of those games, it is a huge ask to reel in Leicester with Claudio Ranieri's men showing no signs of letting up. Defeat this afternoon would surely spell the end of their title hopes once and for all, and then their only domestic focus would be sealing a place in the top four. They are currently only one point clear of West Ham and would have dropped down to fifth had the Hammers beaten Chelsea yesterday, so their Champions League place is by no means guaranteed yet, and Pep Guardiola coming in to manage a side in the Europa League is not what either party would have had in mind.

If they are to avoid that, they need to improve their recent form quickly. They have won just two of their last nine games in all competitions inside the 90 minutes, with one of those coming against rock-bottom Aston Villa in the Premier League and the other seeing them pick up an expected victory over Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League. That run of form has included defeats at the hands of Leicester, Tottenham and Liverpool in the league, as well as Chelsea in the FA Cup, so City have had a problem in recent weeks of performing and picking up positive results in the big games. The exception to that was, of course, the League Cup final, where they beat Liverpool on penalties.

MANCHESTER MEMORIES: Throughout the build-up to this match I will take a trip down memory lane in these Manchester derbies with some of the standout matches and games. Seeing as we're talking about City, let's start with arguably their greatest ever moment in this fixture as they condemned their neighbours to their heaviest home defeat since February 1955. It was October 2011 when City went to Old Trafford and won 6-1, with Mario Balotelli stealing the headlines by unveiling a shirt that read 'Why Always Me?' after opening the scoring. Balotelli went on to score one more, with Aguero, Dzeko (2) and Silva also got on the scoresheet.

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They had no problem performing on the big occasion that day, but their problems in the bigger games this season go further back that their current spell of relatively poor form. No fewer than 42 of their 51 points this season (82%) have come against teams in the bottom half of the table, and that overall points tally is the lowest it has been at this stage of a Premier League seasons for the last seven years. That clearly shows that the difference in this campaign has been turning up against the bigger sides, and while this is far from a vintage United team, it is certainly a big occasion that will ask questions of City.

The majority of their last nine games of the season are against teams in the top half of the table too, so they will need to improve that record significantly if they are to possibly haul themselves back into the title race or even secure a top-four spot. Even counting their matches against bottom-half opposition, their record over recent months has not been good enough for a team hoping to challenge for the title. They have won just eight of 20 games going all the way back to October, failing to win back-to-back matches at any point in that time. Their only league win in their last five outings came against lowly Villa.

Even their home form, which for a long time has been among the most impressive in the Premier League, has faltered in recent weeks. They have only won one of their last four home games in all competitions, which is their worst run of form at the Etihad for more than a year and follows a spell of 12 wins from 14 directly before that. In the Premier League, meanwhile, they have not beaten a team currently outside the bottom six of the table in front of their own fans since a 3-1 win over Southampton in November.

MANCHESTER MEMORIES: Just eight months before City visited Old Trafford and embarrassed their local rivals with a 6-1 win, it was they who were on the end of a memorable derby moment in this fixture. Manchester United won the game 2-1 in February 2011, but it was Wayne Rooney who stole all the headlines with a stunning bicycle kick that was later voted as the greatest goal in Premier League history.

City are today looking for their first back-to-back home league wins of 2016, but they don't have the easiest of run-ins in front of their own fans. They would expected to beat West Brom and Stoke, but those two can pull off shocks on their day, while City's last Etihad outing of the campaign sees them take on Arsenal. That means that their last four home league games all come against teams in the top 11 which, considering their record against those sorts of teams recently, could be a worry for Manuel Pellegrini.

They were playing at the Etihad in the Champions League on Tuesday, and while it was another match without a win in front of their own fans, they did enough to progress to the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time in the club's history. The achievement is far more memorable than the game, which ended goalless against Dynamo Kiev following City's 3-1 win in the first leg, and in the end could prove costly for City after Vincent Kompany was forced off with a recurrence of his calf injury early on. City's reward was a mouth-watering meeting with fellow big-spenders Paris Saint-Germain in the last eight.

Victory in that tie is certainly not implausible, with Chelsea having run PSG pretty close in the last 16, and should City get into the semi-finals of the Champions League then it would go down as one of the most memorable seasons in the club's history, despite their domestic troubles. However, their ability to beat a side like Barcelona or Bayern Munich remains in huge doubt, so Pellegrini's focus must surely remain on securing Champions League football next season via the Premier League rather than trying to go all the way in Europe. Having said that, it would be some way for the Chilean to bow out.

A victory today would see Pellegrini become the first Man City manager to record four league wins over United in the Premier League era, and the first since Joe Mercer managed a fourth in 1970. Despite their shaky recent form, there are plenty of causes for optimism too. Man City have the best goals per game ratio in the Premier League this season and have kept clean sheets in their last three games in all competitions - they haven't kept four on the bounce since that perfect start to the season.

MANCHESTER MEMORIES: Not too many players have crossed the Manchester divide with a great amount of success, but Denis Law had a huge role to play on both sides in these derby games. One of his many goals for United helped to relegate Manchester City years before to switched red for blue and provide one of the most infamous moments this fixture has seen. As it transpired, United would have been relegated even had Law not scored, but the Scot wasn't to know that and his instinctive back-heel to hand City a 1-0 win over his former club clearly took its toll on him and he was taken off shortly afterwards.

United's current plight is still some way from being as bad as it was that day, but the feeling around the club is similarly downbeat at the moment. It has been a tumultuous season for the club and particularly manager Louis van Gaal, who has been reported as on the verge of being sacked on numerous occasions. Everything from results to style of play and post-match comments have been under intense scrutiny for the Dutchman, and it is hard to say that he has passed any of the tests. Quite how many more lives Van Gaal has, only the Manchester United board knows, but a heavy defeat this afternoon would surely sink another nail into his coffin.

Reports in Spain earlier today reignited the Mourinho to United rumours, claiming that the former Chelsea boss had signed a pre-contract agreement to succeed Van Gaal, but there have already been many similar reports that have been wide of the mark this season. For Van Gaal, the priority remains claiming a Champions League place this season, which makes today's game pretty much a must-win encounter. Victory would close the gap on City to just one point, but defeat would open it to seven and, with only eight games remaining after this one, that would be a huge ask.

United do still, of course, have the FA Cup as an option, although they must get past West Ham United in a replay to reach the semi-finals of that competition. A trophy may just be enough to ease some of the pressure on Van Gaal's shoulders, but it is doubtful that it would appease the frustrated fans too much. It is still a big ask for them to go all of the way in the FA Cup on their current form, and even if they do manage it, a solitary FA Cup triumph, coupled with a poor league finish, is scant return for the money Van Gaal has spent since his arrival at the club.

MANCHESTER MEMORIES: One of the most memorable recent meetings between these two sides saw United fight off a spirited City side at Old Trafford before finally clinching a late, late winner through Michael Owen. It was a seven-goal thriller and arguably the most dramatic Manchester derby of the Premier League era. City came from behind three times before succumbing to this strike.

The Europa League was still an avenue to silverware and, just as importantly, the Champions League until Thursday, when United suffered the ignominy of crashing out of Europe at the hands of their biggest domestic rivals Liverpool. United were dire in the first leg and fortunate to only lose the game 2-0, before giving themselves some hope with a Martial penalty in the return leg this week. However, Coutinho chipped United level on the night right on the stroke of half time, which effectively killed the tie and saw Liverpool emerge victorious from the first ever European meeting between the teams.

That made it four games in a row without a victory in all competitions, which is the third time this season that has happened. For many teams that would be a relatively regular statistic, but for United it is a sign of how inconsistent they have been this term. They have now failed to win 10 of their last 15 Premier League outings, losing more games than they have won in that time, while they have picked up just eight victories from 22 league outings dating all the way back to September.

MAN CITY STARTING XI: Hart; Sagna, Demichelis, Mangala, Clichy; Fernandinho, Toure, Navas, Sterling, Silva; Aguero
Subs: Caballero, Zabaleta, Kolarov, Fernando, M.Garcia, Bony, Iheanacho

MAN UTD STARTING XI: De Gea; Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Rojo; Schneiderlin, Carrick, Lingard, Mata, Martial; Rashford
Subs: Romero, Fosu-Mensah, Valencia, Fellaini, Schweinsteiger, Januzaj, Memphis

What can we make of those two teams, then? Well, conspicuous by his absence for the hosts is injured captain Vincent Kompany, with Yaya Toure taking the armband today. As already mentioned, Kompany suffered a calf injury against Kiev and is expected to miss around a month of action, potentially even more, which is a huge blow for City. They have been without their skipper for much of the campaign already and their record without him is not good at all. Further to that, Otamendi is out this afternoon having picked up a dead leg in midweek, so it is Demichelis and Mangala in the middle for City.

Indeed, Clichy is the only member of the back four to keep his place from the side that started against Kiev, with Zabaleta dropping to the bench in favour of Sagna. Hart remains in goal for the hosts, but there is another change in the holding midfielders as Fernando drops to the bench. Toure is expected, therefore, to sit alongside Fernandinho in the middle of the park, as he has done for the majority of the last few seasons.

Fernando's absence is a means of accommodating Raheem Sterling, who has been left out of the starting XI for the last three games but returns this afternoon. The former Liverpool man is expected to play on the left side of the trio just behind the striker, with Silva in the middle and Navas, who is enjoying a decent spell of starts recently, continuing on the right. They have the pace in the wide areas to catch United out, then, and that will be something for the visitors to be wary of.

The biggest danger will be the presence of Sergio Aguero, though. The Argentine is one of the best strikers in world football and, unfortunately for United, has a particularly good record in this fixture. He has seven goals in seven Premier League Manchester derbies, and another this afternoon would see him equal Wayne Rooney's record in this fixture for the Premier League era, doing so in half the amount of games. Indeed, only five players in Premier League history have scored more goals against United than Aguero (Les Ferdinand, Thierry Henry, Steven Gerrard, Robbie Fowler (all eight) and Alan Shearer (10)), while the Argentine has also scored 11 goals in his last eight league appearances at the Etihad.

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The unenviable task of trying to keep that man quiet falls to a United defence that looks a lot more recognisable than it has at many stages of the season, with the club's injury crisis finally beginning to ease. Smalling has generally been one of United's better performers this season, although his recent displays have dipped from his form earlier in the campaign, while Blind has firmly established himself as the centre-back partner under Van Gaal. Rojo is also back after a lengthy illness while Darmian, who was left out against Liverpool in midweek comes in this afternoon for Varela.

Behind that back four is arguably the reason that United are still in touch with the top four at all at the moment. David de Gea's importance to United cannot be understated over the last couple of seasons, and Van Gaal will be thanking his lucky stars that the proposed move to Real Madrid never went through last summer. The Spaniard is arguably the best goalkeeper in the Premier League, and without him United would be in even more misery than they currently find themselves in.

In midfield there is just the one change for United from that draw with Liverpool on Thursday, with Schneiderlin returning to the starting XI in place of Fellaini. He will sit alongside Carrick in the heart of the United midfield, which means that Schweinsteiger again only makes the bench as he continues to step up his recovery following injury. Herrera is also notable by his absence as he once again misses out with a groin problem.

The front four all remain the same as against Liverpool, with Lingard, Mata, Martial and Rashford providing the attacking threat for the visitors this afternoon. The latter of those has been directly involved in three of United's last four league goals since bursting onto the scene in the Europa League, while Martial has been directly involved in 16 goals for United in all competitions this season - a tally only skipper Wayne Rooney (18) can better.

MANCHESTER MEMORIES: Today's match does not exactly pit the best of the best against each other considering the recent troubles for United, and City to a lesser extent. There is plenty riding on the game with Champions League qualification hanging in the balance, but perhaps the heyday of this fixture came in the late 1960s/early 1970s, when both were among the best clubs in the land. The pick of the bunch from that era came at Maine Road in November 1971, with the two sides sharing the spoils in a six-goal thriller that had it all.

Back to United now, and in particular their away form. They may only be travelling a short distance to the Etihad today, but their away record is still cause for great concern. They have only won one of their last six outings on the road in all competitions, with that solitary victory coming at League One side Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup too. Four of their last five have ended in defeats, including losses to Sunderland, FC Midtjylland, West Brom and Liverpool which have all been particularly damaging in their own ways.

All season they have struggled on their travels, with only eight wins in their 23 outings on the road, which could be cut to just six in their last 21. That run includes 10 defeats and back-to-back wins just once. They have not scored away from home in their last two outings, and incredibly another blank this afternoon would be the first time that they have gone three away games in a row in all competitions without finding the back of the net this century. Their last away goal came on February 22 against Shrewsbury, while their last away league goal was in a 2-1 defeat to Sunderland nine days earlier.

Looking solely at the Premier League, United have only won one away game in the last four months. Admittedly, if United could have picked a venue to win at then it would have been at Anfield, where their solitary victory came, but their run of just one in eight Premier League away games is still dreadful for a team of their calibre. They have won just five away league games all season, losing six, while under Louis van Gaal they have just 11 wins from 34 away league outings.

MANCHESTER MEMORIES: Derby matches can often crank up the heat and see players go in for challenges that they perhaps wouldn't even think of in any other game. The fact that it was a Manchester derby had very little to do with this challenge from Roy Keane on Alf-Inge Haaland, though, as the United skipper took revenge for Haaland accusing him of play-acting years before. The pre-meditated challenge provided one of the most infamous moments in Premier League history, yet alone this fixture.

Only seven teams have picked up fewer away points than United in the Premier League this season, which is simply not good enough for a side with ambitions of a top-four challenge, or even higher at the start of the season. Things don't get too much easier for them either. A few of their games come against teams who will be battling against the drop, which can be a tricky assignment in the latter stages of the campaign, while they also have to play Everton, Tottenham, Leicester and West Ham, in addition to today's match against City, this season. Of those, they take on Spurs and West Ham away, and host Everton and Leicester - two teams who are generally better away from home.

United haven't been in Premier League action since March 6, when they were reduced to 10 men in the first half against West Brom and never really offered much of a fight to win the game. In the end they fell to a 1-0 defeat courtesy of a Salomon Rondon strike, giving the forward far too much room in the area to snap up a rare chance in that game. United were in FA Cup action last weekend, rescuing a draw against West Ham through Martial's late strike to cancel out Payet's stunning free kick.

One of the biggest frustrations for United fans this season has been the lack of energy and attacking intent in the performances of the team, and that was the case in the reverse fixture between these two sides at Old Trafford in October. In fairness, though, Manchester City also failed to provide much entertainment as one of the most disappointing derbies between the two in recent times saw just two shots on target and ended 0-0 for the first time in five years.

PREDICTION: We're 10 minutes away from kickoff at the Etihad, which means that it is time for a prediction! Neither side come into this match in very good form at all, and home advantage could prove to be the key here. United have been dreadful on the road recently and, with Aguero's record in Manchester derbies, City should have the goals to exacerbate that run. I'm going for a 3-1 home victory.

MANCHESTER MEMORIES: There has been no shortage of late drama in this fixture down the years, and that was the case when the two sides met here at the Etihad with both gunning for the title once again. Robin van Persie was the hero on this occasion for United, with his late, deflected free kick sealing a 3-2 win for the visitors.

City have enjoyed the main bragging rights in this fixture in recent years, winning four of the last six Premier League meetings between the two teams, although the two exceptions in that run have come in the last two games. Both of those were at Old Trafford, however, with City today looking to make it three consecutive home league wins against their local rivals for the first time since 1955.

The corresponding fixture last season saw Man City run out 1-0 winners here at the Etihad, although United did well to keep the score down having seen Smalling sent off in the first half. Aguero eventually got the winner for City in the 65th minute, but it was not as straightforward as many might have expected when seeing Smalling dismissed.

Right, we're just about ready to go here! This isn't quite a title battle as it has been in recent seasons, but there is still so much riding on this. Defeat for City will surely end their title hopes, with defeat for United perhaps being the final nail in the coffin for their Champions League hopes. It should be a cracker!

KICKOFF: Here we go then! Man City get us underway and go straight on the attack, with Darmian conceding an early corner by putting a Navas cross behind.

United don't deal with the corner too well initially, but after a bit of pinball the visitors do clear the danger.

UPDATE: No goals in the derby so far but there has been a very early one in the other 4pm Premier League kickoff, with Harry Kane giving Spurs a 1-0 lead against Bournemouth in the very first minute. Not good news for City's slim title hopes.

City almost get in behind down the left as Silva moves to the edge of the box. He looks up and waits for support, but his low ball into the box is blocked.

SHOT! Again City come bursting forward down the left, with Silva this time playing in Sterling down the left. His eventual cross is only cleared as far as Navas, who chests the ball down but then volleys wide with a difficult chance.

United have seen a fair amount of the ball in the opening exchanges, but it is notable that they are being very deliberate in possession, taking their time and just looking to settle into it. City, meanwhile, are looking to get forward quickly.

YELLOW CARD! Smalling becomes the first man in the book today having come a long way out of defence to follow Aguero. The Argentine still spins away from him, though, and Smalling tugs him back to earn the card.

Still no big chances to report from this one, with Navas's volley the only shot for either side so far. The game is being played at a good tempo, though, and the atmosphere is helping to add to the occasion.

SAVE! City do come close here as Toure drives forward from midfield, eluding one challenge after picking up a loose pass. He slips on the edge of the box but manages to get the ball to Silva anyway, and the Spaniard moves it on to Sterling. His cross finds Navas, whose powerful low drive is stopped by the feet of De Gea.

He's had a few highlights in his short career to date, but this will be right up there for Rashford as he scores on his Manchester derby debut! It is a fine solo effort too as he bursts past Demichelis before keeping his composure to slot the ball beyond Hart. Demichelis was beaten far too easily, though, and Hart may feel that he should have done better too.

SAVE! Almost a second for United in quick succession! Again Demichelis should do better as Martial collects the ball and lines up an effort from 25 yards. He gets plenty behind the strike, but Hart beats it away to safety.

Another quick break from United sees Rashford and Martial link up to almost found Lingard, but the final pass through is just behind him. That goal has given the visitors a real boost, though.

There is concern for City over Raheem Sterling here as he went down under a sliding challenge that gives the hosts a free kick just outside the area...

CHANCE! Silva lifts it into the area and Rojo slips as Demichelis towers over him. The City defender should do much better from relatively close range, but he can only steer his header wide of the target.

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand seems to approve of the young goalscorer, whose dream start to his United career continues today.

If you are good enough you are old enough.... #Rashford — Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) March 20, 2016

MAN CITY SUB: The hosts are forced into an early change here, with Sterling never fully recovering from that challenge by Mata. He limps off to be replaced by Fernando.

That change has seen Yaya Toure move a little further forward, effectively into the same set-up as the midweek match against Kiev.

United move into a good position through Martial, who is drifting over to the right and seems desperate for Darmian to make the overlapping run. Darmian is slow to do it, though, and in the end the attack comes to nothing.

Again City threaten on the counter-attack, which they have done on a few occasions already this season. This time it is cut short by the linesman's flag, although the replay shows that Aguero was level.

CLOSE! City come forward down the right flank this time, with Navas dropping the ball back to Toure. The Ivorian opens up his body and just tries to steer an effort into the bottom corner, but it bobbles inches past the post. De Gea looked to have it covered, but it was a clever effort from Toure.

City's threat is beginning to grow here! Again Navas provides the threat, stealing a yard before fizzing a low ball into the box that Smalling turns behind.

It is Navas who is looking like the biggest danger for City at the moment. Toure works the ball out to him this time and he cuts inside, but his effort is deflected wide on this occasion.

Time is ticking away to half time here, and United will be delighted with what they have come up with in this first half so far. City have had a few decent sights of goal, but no really clear-cut chances.

Mata does well to keep hold of the ball under pressure from Fernando, working the ball out to Darmian in a good position. However, the right-back's cross is very disappointing and goes straight behind for a goal kick.

Van Gaal is unhappy with a challenge from Aguero here as the Argentine puts his studs up to contest a bouncing ball. Blind goes down in pain, but there was no malice involved and the referee is right to let play continue.

This one is starting to bubble over a little here, with Aguero and Blind involved in a personal duel after that earlier clash. The latest instance sees Blind concede a free kick in a good crossing position for City...

CHANCE! The free kick is flicked on at the neat post by Sagna before reaching Toure at the back post. He is involved in a wrestling match with Carrick and flings the United midfielder out of the way, but can't get a clean connection on his finish. City claim for a penalty, but it was six of one and half a dozen of the other at the back post there.

PENALTY SHOUT! Huge penalty shout for United right at the end of the half as Rojo keeps the ball in and Schneiderlin flicks it through to Rashford. The goalscorer skips past Demichelis before going down, but Michael Oliver doesn't point at the spot. It all kicks off after the lack of a decision, but Demichelis must know he is a lucky guy there. That looked like a spot kick to me.

It is United who go into the break with the lead, then, and they will be delighted with that first half overall. The majority of the chances have fallen to the hosts, but United have had and taken the best of the lot. The hosts are very much still in the game, but they need to improve in the second half if they are to avoid defeat to their biggest rivals.

The goal arrived after 16 minutes, and it was another memorable moment for Rashford as he skipped past Demichelis before slotting the ball beyond Hart. Demichelis must shoulder much of the blame for diving in against the youngster, while Hart may also feel that he should have done a little better, but nothing should be taken away from Rashford's cool finish on what is his Manchester derby debut.

Demichelis and Rashford were involved in another big talking point right at the end of the half when the latter went down under a challenge from the City defender, who took offence and accused Rashford of diving. It was a clumsy challenge from Demichelis, though, and he was very fortunate not to concede a penalty to cap off what has been a miserable half for the Argentine.

Demichelis should have done better moments after the goal too when Martial span away and powered a 25-yard strike towards goal, while at the other end of the field the Argentine has squandered City's clearest chance of the afternoon. Silva floated a free kick into the middle that saw Demichelis tower over Rojo, only to glance his header wide.

There have been other sights of goal for City too, with Toure coming close on a couple of occasions, while Navas has seen one drilled low effort saved by De Gea. They have struggled to create clear goalscoring openings so far, however, and need to get Aguero more involved in the final third if they are to get themselves back into this game.

KICKOFF: United get us back underway for this second half as they look to pull off what would be a huge victory over their local rivals.

Demichelis had a shocker of a first half, and he has started the second just as poorly! He sells Hart short with a back-pass that interests Martial. Hart just gets there first, but looks to have pulled his calf in doing so.

This doesn't look good for Hart. He tries to stand but immediately collapses, and it doesn't look like he will be able to continue here.

MAN CITY SUB: There is the change as Hart is stretchered off to be replaced by Willy Caballero. Not great news for England with the international break coming up either.

Demichelis is all over the place at the moment. He gives the ball away inside his own half twice in quick succession as United begin to smell blood. They come down the left flank and the ball is played low into the box, which Caballero stops.

MAN CITY SUB: The situation was so dire for Pellegrini that he has opted to use his final change on hauling Demichelis off. Wilfried Bony comes on in his place, which means that Fernandinho will drop back into the heart of the defence - a sign of just how poorly Demichelis was playing.

Bony looks to make an immediate impact as the ball is stood up for him in the middle, but he can't get enough on the header to trouble the keeper.

CHANCE! United go straight up the other end and, after Martial's deflected effort is pushed away by Willy Caballero, Rashford sees his close-range flick deflected behind for a corner.

Aguero looks to spark City into action, picking the ball up on the right flank and trying to take them all on. He drives into the box before trying to lash one in from a tight angle, but he misses the target.

It's all getting very frantic at the moment, with the match being played at a quick tempo. There is a sense that United feel they have a real chance of getting a second here, but City are beginning to get the ball forward quickly themselves and are looking dangerous on the break.

Aguero is beginning to see a little bit more of the ball now and seems to be taking it upon himself to get City back into this match. He tries to flick one around the corner for Silva here, but the ball is put behind for a corner.

Good block from Smalling to deny a low strike from Silva after some quick passing in and around the edge of the United box. City's threat is growing here!

MAN UTD SUB: The visitors make a change here as Rojo departs to be replaced by Antonio Valencia.

Brilliant defending from Smalling to get in front of Bony and make a crucial challenge to thwart the Ivorian at the front post following Sagna's low cross.

OFF THE POST! City are inches away from levelling things up! Toure gets forward down the right flank and puts a cross into the box, which Aguero meets at the near post. He steals a yard on his marker and powers a header goalwards, but it hits the upright and bounces away

There is a real sense of urgency about Man City at the moment, and rightly so. Their pressure is growing, but United are so far holding firm with a little over 20 minutes to go. Clichy sends the latest effort well over.

Aguero looks to bend one in at the far post, but sends it quite a way off target.

MAN UTD SUB: Another change for the visitors as Bastian Schweinsteiger is brought on in place of Mata.

CHANCES! City keep pushing for that equaliser and almost get it here as Silva's floated cross to the back post finds Aguero in space. He goes for goal, but can only direct his header back across where Toure is waiting. He pulls it back to Bony, but the striker is unable to get a clean shot away and it goes behind for a corner. Bony has another swipe from the resulting deliver, but United eventually survive.

SHOT! Navas skips away from his man into another good shooting position, but he drives the ball over the top of the bar. City's pressure is pretty much relentless right now, though.

YELLOW CARD! Mangala goes into the book for a late challenge on Lingard, giving United a free kick in a decent crossing position.

City fans want a red card for Smalling here as he trips Aguero after being turned by the Argentine. There is little doubt he would have been booked had he not already been on a card there!

The resulting free kick is nodded wide of the target, but the home fans are not pleased with Michael Oliver here. They have a point too - they should have had a penalty and probably a red for Smalling too.

Man City have now had 22 shots in this match, but only three of those have been on target. They just haven't been clinical enough in the final third this afternoon.

MAN UTD SUB: Darmian has gone down with cramp a couple of times in the last few minutes and will now be taken off by Van Gaal, being replaced by Timothy Fosu-Mensah.

United want a penalty now as Martial collects the ball and bursts into the box before being checked by Fernandinho. It is worth asking the question, but Michael Oliver is this time right to wave the claims away.

Martial does well to win his side a free kick in a good position. They could put the ball in the box here, but will surely play it short and waste a bit more valuable time.

They do indeed do that, but Martial just can't curb that instinct to attack the defender and City have a chance to break which they eventually win a corner from.

There will be SIX minutes of added time at the end of this match!

CHANCE! Big chance for City in the first of those added minutes! Silva pings a beauty of a pass over to Aguero, whose first touch takes him inside his marker perfectly. However, he just snatches at his effort and drags it wide of the near post when you were expecting the net to bulge.

Everyone is back for United right now as they desperately cling on to this lead. Just a couple of minutes stoppage time remain!

What a huge victory that is for Manchester United! They breathe new life into their Champions League hopes by closing the gap on Man City to one point with a 1-0 victory over their local rivals in their own back yard. Marcus Rashford will dominate the headlines again having scored the only goal of the game to leave City 15 adrift of leaders Leicester. It is all about that top four for City now!

That is all we time for this evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for this dramatic Manchester derby as United beat City 1-0 to move within one point of their local rivals in fourth place. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!