Chris Smalling was my Man of the Match yesterday, putting in a composed and confident performance that would have been unfair to have expected from the youngster in his first Manchester derby. Carlos Tevez didn’t get a sniff of goal thanks to Smalling’s imposing presence and he has explained how he was able to play so well.
“I knew I was going to be playing earlier in the week so I had a lot of time to prepare,” he said. “People have been telling me just what a massive game this is. Once I got my first touch it was a case of enjoying it and playing like any other game. It was a great occasion and I really enjoyed myself. To win it and play my part is a real joy.”
