Manchester City 1-0 Manchester United: Sergio Aguero fires City within reach of Chelsea

The outpour of relief when referee Michael Oliver signalled for full-time here encapsulated the anxiety which had engulfed Manchester City as Chelsea threatened to make their charge towards the Premier League title a procession. Phew. The race for the Premier League is back on.

Yaya Toure graced this enthralling Manchester derby, orchestrating City's periods of supremacy here. Doubts had been raised over his motivation and work ethic but Pellegrini's unerring faith was duly vindicated here.

United were encouraging at times but let down by a naive Chris Smalling, the English central defender expelled for a second bookable offence on the cusp of half-time. United didn't stop believing, threatening City and producing enviable chances.

Yet, once again, it was Sergio Aguero making the difference. The Argentine harried United and shimmered with danger throughout, scoring with an accomplished finish as anxiety reigned at the Etihad Stadium.

What will also encourage Pellegrini is his side's resilience to weather United's gallant late storm. City closed the gap between themselves and leaders Chelsea to six points, reviving hopes for the defence of their Premier League title.

Rooney returns

As Van Gaal had stressed at the Aon Training Complex on Friday, Rooney diffused any suggestions of an injury to start here, deployed centrally in United's offensive three supporting Robin van Persie at the tip of Van Gaal's flexible 4-2-3-1 system. Winged by Adnan Januzaj and Angel Di Maria, Rooney was granted a valuable licence to roam around the final third and assert the quality seemingly prized by Van Gaal.

Rooney was coming deep and receiving the ball on the half way line, suffering a lapse in concentration and relinquishing possession.

There were more to his duties, displaying an impressive turn of pace to track the potent Sergio Aguero and dispossessing the Argentine.

City threatened as the Etihad urged Pellegrini's men to assert the quality which earned then the Premier League title last season. Fernando sped down the left channel and delivered an enticing cross, Aguero meeting his ball. De Gea emerged from his goal line with haste, blocking well from the Argentine.

Daft from Chris Smalling

This was daft from Smalling, a defender sufficiently experienced to avoid such an error. Foolishly blocking Hart's attempted goal-kick, he accumulated a needless yellow card.

Aguero harried City, pressing eagerly.

Michael Oliver was unflinching as he expelled Smalling for a second bookable offence. He lunged in carelessly on the advancing Milner and duly departed. City surged forward, intent on profiting from their numerical advantage. Toure fed Aguero who collapsed under the presence of Fellaini, appealing for a penalty.

The sense that City were building was growing, asserting their dominance on this enthralling Manchester derby. Jovetic dinked the ball over Rojo and the Argentine was ill-advising in bringing Toure down, fortunate to avoid a red card and the concession of a penalty.

City emerged after the break with added vigour. Fellaini thwarted Navas's shot at goal. Zabaleta volleyed over the crossbar.

The Etihad grew ever more agitated, serenading Rooney with howls of derision as he brusquely halted Toure's progression towards the box.

United were defending arduously, Shaw stifling Navas's attempted cross.

United's adversities augmented, Rojo departing on a stretcher having sustained a dislocated shoulder. Paddy McNair, a 19 year-old graduate from United's academy, was his replacement.

An end-to-end encounter was unfolding before the . Aguero wriggled in between Carrick and Fellaini and collapsed under the Belgian's presence, appealing for a penalty. Valencia launched United's counter-attack, threading through Di Maria, the Argentine poleaxed by his compatriot Demichelis.

Aguero strikes again

Incensed, City probed patiently within the outskirts of the penalty area. Toure, gathering the ball from Jovetic, swept the ball beyond the disinclined Di Maria and into Clichy. Aguero had made his move, a dart across McNair, and drove Clichy's grounded cross beyond De Gea.

This was a flowing move which pleased the subdued Pellegrini, celebrating with elation, arms outstretched in triumph.

Blind momentarily released his defensive handbrakes, surging forward and spearheading a United break.

City went for the jugular, Milner departing to an appreciative ovation as Samir Nasri emerged on the scene. Dzeko, replacing the subdued Jovetic, came on. Toure fed Navas, the Spaniard thwarted by his compatriot De Gea. United broke forward at the opposite end, Van Persie's effort directed too close to Hart. Toure was orchestrating City's supremacy, penetrating United's porous defence with a searching, incisive pass towards Navas whose powerful strike stunned the crossbar.

United looked to hit back. Rooney skipped with ease beyond Kompany, nut-megging the Belgian, and shooting straight at Demichelis. Di Maria pounced onto the loose ball, Dr Gea tipping his drilled effort beyond the post.

Van Gaal rolled his last dice, summoning James Wilson as Van Persie departed to howls of derision. City hung on here, Aguero departing incensed as Fernandinho came on to provide further defensive reinforcement.

Toure, intending to cap an outstanding individual display, shot marginally wide. The Etihad expressed their derision at the five extra minutes at the culmination of this engaging derby. But soon howled in relief. Race on for the Premier League title.