Five reasons Manchester United fans should be optimistic ahead of derby day

Manchester United will be looking to keep their resurgent run going when they host local rivals Man City in the first Manchester derby of the season this weekend.

Erik ten Hag's side head into the match on the back of three dramatic wins in a row, while Pep Guardiola's side have lost three of their last five matches across all competitions.

United will likely need to be at their best to have any chance of winning the match at Old Trafford, but there are still plenty of reasons to be optimistic.

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Three wins on the spin

It hasn't been pretty, but United have rediscovered their vital trait of winning games ugly, something that is crucial if they are to get their season back on track and start to climb the league. With three wins on the bounce, the confidence and momentum are beginning to build, and this weekend's derby could come at a time when United are about to hit their stride. United will still head into the match as underdogs, but they are starting to find their rhythm again and shouldn't be underestimated, even against the best teams in the league.

The blueprint to beat City

A common theme across the last three matches is that United haven't been in much control and have had to rely on their counter-attacking threat to win. That is typically seen as a problem when playing against lesser opponents, but against City, it seems like their best chance of getting a positive result.

United's only win over City last season came when they did just that at Old Trafford, with Alejandro Garnacho changing the game from the bench, just as he did in midweek. It will take a lot of hard work and perhaps a