Manchester United dealt Manchester City's Champions League qualification hopes another blow by storming back from behind to trounce their derby rivals 4-2 in the Premier League on Sunday.
Sergio Aguero gave City an eighth-minute lead at a blustery Old Trafford, but United hit back through Ashley Young, Marouane Fellaini, Juan Mata and Chris Smalling to register a sixth successive league win. Aguero claimed another goal at the death — his 100th in City's colours — but it was too late to prevent United ending a sequence of four consecutive defeats against their neighbours.
The win gave United a four-point cushion over City in third place — the last automatic Champions League qualifying spot — and took them back to within a point of Arsenal ahead of next weekend's trip to leaders Chelsea. It was a fourth successive away league defeat for City — their worst run since 2006 — and hammered another nail in their title defence.
Young and Fellaini have been symbols of United's recent resurgence and they combined for the 27th-minute goal that put the hosts ahead. Daley Blind reached the byline on the left and cut the ball back for Young, whose trademark in-swinging cross was nodded in at the far post by the unmistakeable frizzy-haired head of Fellaini.
It was a brilliant response from Louis van Gaal's men and City's frustration almost cost them dearly when captain Vincent Kompany flew in on Blind, for which he escaped with a booking.
United extended their lead mid-way through the second half, with Mata running onto Rooney's pass and tucking the ball between Hart's legs despite replays showing he had been offside. Smalling meted out further punishment in the 73rd minute when he headed in Young's free-kick and after Carrick had gone off injured, Aguero reduced the damage by bundling in a cross from Pablo Zabaleta.
Earlier in the day Cesc Fabregas fired Chelsea another step closer to the Premier League title as the Spain midfielder's late strike sealed a hard-fought 1-0 win over QPR.
Jose Mourinho's side were well below their best in a scrappy west London derby, but the leaders stole a vital three points when Fabregas converted their only shot on target two minutes from full-time at Loftus Road. The Blues are now seven points clear of second placed Arsenal and have a game in hand on the chasing pack, meaning four more wins from their remaining seven matches will see them crowned English champions for the first time since 2010.
While it was hardly a vintage performance in front of Roman Abramovich, who was watching from the stands as the Russian marked his 700th match as Chelsea owner, the gritty victory was invaluable as it gives Mourinho's men greater margin for error heading into their showdowns with Manchester United and Arsenal over the next two weeks.
Defeat was cruel on third bottom QPR, who remain two points from safety despite matching their more illustrious opponents for long periods, although the missiles thrown at Chelsea players by the home fans after Fabregas's goal will cast a shadow over their performance.
