The pressure begins to mount on manager David Moyes as his Manchester United side go down to Manchester City in a heavy 4-1 defeat in the Manchester derby. The loss heaps more woe on the champions as this result leaves them with only 7 points from the 5 opening games.

Manchester United players dejected in loss to neighbours City.

As bad as it appears however, the scoreline is not the most worrying thing. The most damaging thing is that United were beaten in every facet of the game. United were outfought, out-hustled and technically outmaneuvered. In a rear sight for a Manchester United team, they were a side that looked unprepared for the battle and totally not up for the challenge. Other than Wayne Rooney, there were no good performances turned in by United players.

Rooney virtually shouldered United’s burden alone and was rewarded for his endeavors with a scant consolation goal. When United had the ball they were quickly stifled in midfield and were unable to get anything going offensively. They could not muster any any real possession or penetration with all their attacks being snuffed out or dying out due to poor play and execution, with winger Ashley Young often being the culprit.

United were without Robin van Persie, who was out with a groin strain, but his absence alone – no matter how significant – cannot account for the manner in with David Moyes’ side were utterly outclassed.

Manchester City’s Yaya Toure was the main destructive force as he was back to the dominant form that he was in when City won the league championship two years ago and looked in a different class to United’s £27.5m new boy Marouane Fellaini. Fellaini for his part could not come to grips with the game, sitting way too deep, practically alongside Michael Carrick, and between the two of them they were unable to match the industry, drive skill and passion of Toure. Defensively he was at a loss also, being at fault in two of the City goals.

At the back Nemaja Vidic and Rio Rio Ferdinand were tormented by the City strikers with Sergio Aguero spearheading the charge. It was a resounding win for City and sends out a warning to the rest of the league.

For United, what is clear that after five games into the season, aside from dropping points, the Moyes version of Manchester United has a definite slant towards industry, strength and aggressiveness, with flair and creativity taking a back seat, with the likes of Shinji Kagawa and Nani finding it hard to get in the field. It’s early days yet, and many more months of the season to go. As the great Sir Alex Ferguson used to say, titles aren’t won in September, but they surely can be lost. Only time will tell.