Phil Foden sent off in Manchester derby

Phil Foden was sent off in the 23rd minute of the Manchester derby at Old Trafford, shown a straight red card for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes. The Manchester City midfielder became the first City player sent off in the fixture since Bernardo Corradi in 2006.

The flashpoint came from an even opening spell. Foden and Fernandes tangled near the touchline, and the City player went down under the challenge, landing on top of the ball. Replays showed Fernandes then made contact with Foden as he tried to kick the ball clear, catching him low in the back. Foden, still on the ground, swung both legs up into Fernandes' stomach. Referee Michael Oliver produced the red card straight away, and VAR backed the decision, ruling it a "secondary movement" and a clear sending-off. Fernandes was not punished for his part in the coming-together.

Gary Neville, sent off himself in a derby in 2004, gave his verdict on Sky Sports: "Oh dear. Oh dear, Phil Foden. He's not having it, he's hanging around. Bruno Fernandes has a bit of a kick at him while he's on the ground and Foden reacts. He's kicked him in the stomach. He's not going to get away with that. You can see why he is annoyed. He thinks Bruno has had a kick at him. But he reacts badly." Neville later called it "a petulant little reaction" to being kicked while down.

Marcus Rashford was among those on the United side calling for the red card, while City's players largely went to console Foden as he walked off. Erling Haaland offered no sympathy for his teammate, waving him away from the pitch.

Foden, 26 and born in Stockport, has scored 80 times for City since 2020 but had been out of form before Saturday's derby. The dismissal left City to play the rest of the game at Old Trafford a man short.

A player down for the best part of an hour changes the maths of any derby, and City's task at Old Trafford grows harder with it — though what it costs them in the final reckoning will depend on how United choose to use the extra man.