Manchester United 2 City 0

The Frenchman executed a first-half volleyed goal and then McTominay audaciously finished it off, as he superbly fired in a loose clearance by Ederson in added time to secure victory in the local set-to and add to manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s 2-1 Etihad success in December.

The precious Manchester derby success keeps United well in the hunt for a top-four slot in the league and still within touching distance of Chelsea, who had won earlier in the afternoon against Everton.

It had been a tame start by the Reds as the message from the manager to take the sting out of City’s normal rhythm had not quite transferred from the tactics board to the pitch.

The Blues dominated possession but, fortunately, had little to show for it bar a save from David De Gea as he pawed away a Raheem Sterling effort. United’s first answer was a Daniel James shot that was easily gobbled up by City goalkeeper Ederson.

The hosts finally began to get a foothold in the game and knock City out of their stride. Martial fired a 27th-minute attempt straight at Ederson with his team-mates screaming for a pass.

However, they were shouting with joy, three minutes later, when the French striker got it bang on. Inevitably, architect Bruno Fernandes was the source of the Reds going ahead.

Our quick-thinking Portuguese midfielder caught the Blues napping as he lifted a free-kick over their defensive line and, with the visitors flat footed, Martial volleyed in the opener, with Ederson unable to keep it out despite getting a glove to the ball.

The exciting transformation in United from edgy to exhilarating had Old Trafford rocking and Pep Guardiola’s side quivering, with Fernandes unable to convert a cross by Brandon Williams, and Fred harshly booked for simulation after being caught by Nicolas Otamendi inside the area.

It was a frantic start to the second half with a Sergio Aguero goal being confirmed as offside by the VAR review - the flag was up when he lashed into the net and that was proved the correct call. Ederson then almost embarrassed himself in front of the Stretford End when he miscontrolled a back-pass. The Brazilian just managed to recover before Martial could nip in to nudge in his second, with the striker colliding with a post as he challenged.

Phil Foden, who’d been kept so quiet by the excellent Brandon Williams, got free after 56 minutes but his drive was tipped over by De Gea. Ederson had to replicate the Spaniard's stop after 70 minutes to deny James, even if the Wales international perhaps should have spotted Fernandes in space.

In the meantime, City had made two changes bringing Gabriel Jesus and Riyad Mahrez on in an attempt to disrupt a secure United. Mahrez fashioned a chance for Sterling and a follow-up shot from De Gea was stopped as the Blues looked to step up their efforts to equalise.

Solskjaer’s first changes came after 78 minutes with Eric Bailly and McTominay coming on for Williams and Martial.

Mahrez flashed a cross in that evaded everybody and Foden tested De Gea with a drive from distance, but United remained disciplined in defence.

With City getting desperate, Ole's men kept their heads and McTominay pounced on an errant Ederson throw-out in stoppage time to fire in the loose ball from distance with the Brazilian in no man's land.

Old Trafford erupted as we celebrated another memorable derby success as the Reds close to within three points of fourth-placed Chelsea but you know this was a day that means an awful lot more than that.

MATCH DETAILS

United: De Gea; Lindelof, Maguire (c), Shaw; Wan-Bissaka, Matic, Fred, Fernandes (Ighalo 88), Williams (Williams 78); James, Martial (McTominay 78).

Subs not used: Romero, Tuanzebe,  Mata, Greenwood.

Goal: Martial 30, McTominay 90+6.

Bookings: Fred, Maguire.

City: Ederson; Cancelo, Fernandinho (c), Otamendi, Zinchenko (Mendy 78); Gundogan, Rodri, Foden; B. Silva (Mahrez 69), Aguero (Jesus 59), Sterling.

Subs not used: Bravo, Garcia,  Walker, D. Silva 

Bookings: Fernandinho, Cancelo, Jesus.

Attendance: 73,288.