A dismal first-half performance consigned Manchester United to a 2-0 defeat by Manchester City at Old Trafford, their fourth defeat in six Premier League games.
After the nightmare of that 5-0 Liverpool defeat nearly a fortnight ago, it was looking ominous for United as City took the lead on seven minutes through Eric Bailly's own goal as he stretched to intercept Joao Cancelo's dangerous cross.
United could have gone level on points with City with a win, but the chasm between them at Old Trafford was enormous as the hosts put in another low-grade display that will put pressure back on manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
David De Gea made no less than five excellent saves in seven first-half minutes as City peppered United's goal, but the goalkeeper should have kept out Bernardo Silva's poke at the most acute of angles just before the break from another Cancelo ball (45), though Luke Shaw was equally culpable for some slack defending.
United brought on Jadon Sancho at the break and at least stemmed the flow in a less eventful second half - Gary Neville said they "resembled a drunk bloke at the end of a night looking for a fight" on co-commentary - though City still missed fine chances for Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden.
After a relatively stabilising week leading up to the derby, the heat is back on United and Solskjaer as they sit eight points off leaders Chelsea with just over a quarter of the season gone, a gap that could move to 11 points by 5pm on Saturday. City return to form domestically after two straight defeats, and sit second.
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