Erik ten Hag paid the price for his Manchester United selection decision in Man City thrashing

Manchester United supporters briefly chanted "If you go down to Man City you'll buy one get one free" - a reference to the apparent ease of obtaining tickets at the Etihad. Before half-time, it was the away section that was pockmarked by vacant seats. They missed another five goals.

A helicopter overhead captured the early departures filing out of the away section like a colony of ants. They had already seen United ship four at the same ground this year and United have conceded at least four in eight games within the last year.

How City fans would have loved the Etihad's sizeable screen to have mirrored the broadcasters and displayed Sir Alex Ferguson's expression at 4-0. The stewing Scot sat motionless, possibly suffering flashbacks of The 5-1 and The 6-1. City surpassed the former and briefly emulated the latter scoreline.

Read more: United player ratings from City hammering

"We want ten," City fans chanted with 15 minutes remaining. For more than a decade they have chanted "It should've been 10" and on this day it felt possible. The broadcasters homed in on Ferguson again at 6-1. Anthony Martial at least prevented a repeat of that scoreline with two goals.

That United's season is not defined by a derby is a reflection of how far they have fallen. Yesteryear, annihilation by City win was a seismic result. Now it is a near-annual occurrence.

"Tearing Cockneys apart again," crowed the City fans to Joy Division. United lacked substance until Antony scored stylishly and the sight of Casemiro and Martial waiting in their kits on the touchline was an extra fillip. The trouble was it was already 4-1. It got worse.

The City fans resurrected the Poznan but the stadium did not roar as deafeningly as at Maine Road in 2002 or,