Honestly, it was an easy win. I don't think we've ever had such a simple path to victory in a Manchester Derby in a loooooooong time. And really, we should've won by more.

I must be frank, I didn't expect that result. AT ALL.

United were all over City from the first minute to the last and we absolutely deserved that win, no one can say otherwise. Every player put in a real shift and the energy from them is not something we've seen in a while.

City were categorically shit but that's not our problem. We took advantage of that and I feel like it was the perfect game for United and especially Carrick. Dare I say, the real winners here are the board?

Look, I know that it's perhaps a boring topic or that it may come across as negative because we've just won a Derby but it's precisely because of that that we need to keep the pressure on the club. We CANNOT let this win make us forget what the real issue is at the club.

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With all that being said, I do just want to talk about the game itself today. I think emotions are high and it's not something we've felt too often over the past 18 months. We might as well enjoy it while we can, right?

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As I said, it was the perfect game: a couple of goals (could've scored more), clean sheet, no bad performances, Mbeumo returning with a goal, 3 points, into the top 4, Carrick debut triumph. What more could we ask for?

Despite some reservations about the starting lineup, the interim boss got it spot on. We suspected that he would play a more counter-attacking game and in order to do that, he will need certain players in that XI.

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It was almost as if Mbeumo and Amad rocked up at exactly the right time for United as without them, I don't think we win this match. The difference they made on the break was tenfold and Amad was unlucky to not score as well after hitting the post.

Bringing Maguire back was also correct as the former captain held things down pretty well along with Martinez. The pair shutting out the man some ex-players would pick him up and run away with him.

Even after early yellow cards, Dalot and Shaw still performed brilliantly. Casemiro looked like the Casemiro of 22/23 as he played on another level in that midfield. Mainoo was good, Dorgu was great again after scoring another goal, and Bruno as that no 10 just felt right.

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The energy and concentration were the two areas that I was happiest with the most. United have had the tendency to start off well or play with high amounts of energy during games yet those only last for a specific period rather than anything sustainable.

We didn't see that today as throughout the 90, United were on the ball.

We didn't throw a lead away as we've done many times this season, there was a lot of fight and desire shown, and the concentration remained when usually, we sit back and allow oppositions back into it by conceding silly goals.

Old Trafford was rocking as it has not done in a while and Casemiro was so happy with the 2nd goal that he jumped on the back of Carrick! This displayed how much this victory meant to the players and to all us fans.

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However, we've seen this before. We've seen this team switch things on and off. It's very easy in a match like a Derby to get your spirits up. It's very easy against ateam who play with a lot of possession and allow us to play on the counter, which is what this team loves. It's very easy when it's at home and it's your new manager's debut.

It's now about consistency. No point doing it against City, Chelsea, Liverpool only to lose against 10-man Everton and drawing to the likes of West Ham, Wolves, Leeds and Burnley.

Arsenal next week will provide another tough test but once more, I wouldn't be surprised if we showed up in that one too. The big games aren't the ones I worry about. It is about the teams we should be beating that truly concerns me.

Carrick needs to find that consistency until the end of the season and hopefully we get into the Champions League. European football is a must and a victory like this can go a long way to getting us there.

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Ratings

Lammens - 6

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Dalot - 6.5

Maguire - 7

Martinez - 7

Shaw - 6.5

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Casemiro - 7

Mainoo - 6.5

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Amad - 7

Bruno - 7

Dorgu - 7.5 MOTM

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Mbeumo - 6.5

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Cunha - 6.5

Ugarte - 6

Mount - 6

Heaven - 6

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Michael Carrick - 8

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Man Utd beat Man City 2-0 in Michael Carrick's first game in charge | Image via Manchester United official X (@ManUtd)