Player ratings: Manchester City 0-1 Manchester United

That was fun.

David de Gea: 6

Coped with almost everything City threw at him, which wasn't much: though the home team had 26 shots, a mere three were on target. Beaten by Sergio Aguero on one occasion, but all good goalkeepers have the woodwork on their side. Clang.

Matteo Darmian: 2,936,771

It's impossible to prove that Darmian exaggerated, accelerated or straight-up simulated his attack of cramp when he saw Marouane Fellaini was about to come on, but we'll give him the credit anyway. Might have broken three million, if only he could cross.

Chris Smalling: 4

Not bad, but not great. Picked up a highly fortunate Man of the Match award from Sky, but was embarrassed early on by Aguero for his yellow card and could, or even should, have collected a second later in the game. Still, a colossal improvement on his last game in this stadium.

Daley Blind: 5

Made Aguero very angry indeed and didn't make any costly defensive mistakes. Hard to complain about that. His corners are getting increasingly rotten, mind.

Marcos Rojo: 4

Rojo found himself in a privileged position: there is simply no need to defend well against Jesus Navas, a player who seems to be allergic to both shooting and crossing. Seemed to enjoy his afternoon off.

Morgan Schneiderlin: 7

Exactly the kind of performance he was bought for, in exactly the kind of game he was bought for. Efficient and tidy with the ball, energetic and assiduous without. We don't understand why he is one of the players in the squad with whom Van Gaal has no patience — see also: Ander Herrera — but he needs to start every game from now until his legs fall off.

Michael Carrick: 5

Generally more assured than in recent games, albeit with occasional moments of defensive shakiness. But he and Schneiderlin worked together well and were able to take advantage of Yaya Toure's diffident display to keep things nicely under control.

Juan Mata: 6

Not his most Juan Mata-like performance, but a decent one nonetheless. Always busy, and his pass to Rashford before the goal was perfectly judged, tempting Demichelis out but giving the striker enough room to flick the ball around him.

Jesse Lingard: 6

First on the scene to support Rashford when City's players got all huffy about the penalty that should have been; the two players then shared an adorable fistpump as they left the field for halftime. Can't remember many actual football contributions, if we're being honest, but who cares about that?

Anthony Martial: 7

We knew he was slick, quick and skilful, but it's quickly becoming clear that Martial is not a luxury player. Because as well as all of that, he stays involved. Great in attack, when his ability to ghost past players is invaluable, but also very effective when defending a lead. The ball sticks to him, and he doesn't often do anything silly with it.

Marcus Rashford: 7

Lovely stuff. Embarrassed Martin Demichelis for the goal, then made him look ridiculous and deeply petty for the penalty that never was. When you're trying to pick a scrap with a kid, Martin, it's not a good look.

Antonio Valencia (on for Rojo, 63'):

You take your fullback off. You put your fullback on. Off, on, off, on, until they're all gone. You do the Louis van Gaal and occasionally you win a game in the process. That's what it's all about. Oh!

Bastian Schweinsteiger (on for Mata, 70'):

It's fair to say that Schweinsteiger hasn't quite been as brilliant as everybody was hoping he might be, but he is a pretty decent option for stiffening up the midfield late in the game. And so he proved to be.

Timothy Fosu-Mensah (on for Darmian, 84'): 5

Disappointingly failed to kick anybody up in the air. Must try harder.