Man City dressing room eyeing title after Manchester United U21 thrashing

Manchester City quickly put the elation of beating Manchester United to one side as they focussed on far bigger achievements.

City were in control from the start on Sunday against United as they raced into a 2-0 lead, and when Will Dickson scored his second two minutes after Sonny Aljofree was sent off for the visitors, the game was won. A patient performance from that point was rewarded with three late goals to make it six goals against United for the second time this season.

For Dickson, though, the result will send a message far beyond the other side of Manchester, as the young Blues consolidated their title credentials.

ALSO READ: Manchester United demolition highlights Man City U21s off-pitch progress

City have won the Premier League 2 for the last two seasons, with this result sending them back above Chelsea to the top of the table by a point, and they still have two games in hand.

"We can't ask for much more," Dickson told MEN Sport. "6-0 in a Manchester derby. All the lads are buzzing. A great performance and a great win to go with it. It sends a message to the other teams in the league. It really shows we're here to fight for the title and we want to go back to back to back.

"We'll take loads of confidence. We know within our ability we can beat anyone in the league. It's just a case of performing well in training, training properly through the week. [Top of the league] is where we want to be at the end of the season."

Dickson scored two in the first half as City got six near-identical goals with a winger getting to the byline and crossing for a teammate to convert for close range - a move the in-form striker said was a key part of the gameplan.

He explained: "It's always the game plan to start really well