Derby reax

Kevin McCarra, The Guardian

The only proximity between these club lies on the map. No one expects Manchester City to be the equals of the Champions League holders month after month, but occasions such as this ought to bring out the best in Mark Hughes's team. After all, they had won both of the derby fixtures last season.

Great investment in the squad is ­anticipated, but the owner, Sheikh ­Mansour, cannot be satisfied with the return on the large sums laid out so far. There is a baleful consistency about City's away games in the Premier League; only two have been won so far in this ­campaign. They did not act as if they had any desire to make today's trip to Old Trafford an exception.

Matt Lawton, The Daily Mail

They didn't need Rooney against a disappointing City side who never looked like scoring once Shay Given had failed to stop a bouncing 30-yard free-kick from Ronaldo flying into the back of his net.

They had plenty of possession in midfield but, as their manager Mark Hughes admitted, no end product.

Robinho was awful, so much so that he too made a point on Tevez's behalf. If he's worth £30million, then surely the hard- working Argentina striker represents decent value for money at much the same price. It is a fair argument, even if United still think the valuation is too high.

Oliver Kay, The Times

Ferguson called it a “horrible game”, but it was not altogether clear why. It was about as comfortable as he could have wished a derby match to be at this stage of the season, with City showing plenty of quality but not a hint of penetration.

With Nemanja Vidic winning every header and every tackle at the centre of defence, making light of Rio Ferdinand’s absence through a slight calf injury, United were assured throughout, even if, by Ferguson’s admission, they did not begin to perform as they can.

Sam Wallace, The Independent

Too many of City's big names failed to deliver, including Robinho who was substituted towards the end with an injury. Elano did not really deliver on his high opinion of himself apart from one angled ball in the 56th minute which eluded Vidic and found Robinho on the dangerous side of Rafael. He shot over. United barely tested Given in the second half – they did not have to.

Given that these local confrontations are so often full of colour, this one passed off without much more than the usual bitterness. In fact it was just the kind of routine win that Ferguson would welcome at this stage of a title run-in in every respect apart from the conduct of his two goalscorers.

Mark Ogden, Daily Telegraph

Manchester City were not short of motivation in their attempt to check United's surge to a third successive championship, yet Mark Hughes's team never looked capable of defeating their local rivals.

They did not have a Ronaldo or a Tevez within their ranks, the £32.5m Robinho disappearing without a trace, and it was United's Latin pair that made the difference, before they proceeded to make their individual points to the watching world.