Three interesting stats from Manchester City’s goalless derby draw with Manchester United

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30.8% – City’s dominance brings out United resilience  

After being held to nine frustrating home draws at Old Trafford themselves this season, Manchester United turned the table at the Etihad on Thursday evening with their own dogged performance.

A combination of Jose Mourinho’s strategy of playing for a draw and City’s over-riding dominance on the ball, United only managed 30.8% of possession all evening – their worst return since 2004.

Not that it will bother the Portuguese boss one bit; as far as he’s concerned it’s a point gained rather than two lost, and it’s now onto lowly Swansea City on Sunday to return to winning ways.

The statistics show just how in control the hosts were all night, with Yaya Toure completing 98 passes in 90 minutes – more than Marouane Fellaini, Michael Carrick, Ander Herrera and Henrikh Mkhitaryan combined (91) – whilst Claudio Bravo made more passes (11) than the isolated Marcus Rashford (5).

There was only going to be one likely winner as the hosts penned United into their own penalty area in the second-half; in the first 20 minutes of the second period alone, the visitors spent 51% of the time inside their own defensive third and only managed six touches in the Manchester City third.

It wasn’t a vintage derby by any means, but it’s job done as far as Mourinho is concerned after channelling the spirit and resilience of all the teams that have frustrated his side this campaign.