Sir Alex Ferguson's reaction showed gutting reality about Manchester United under the Glazers

David de Gea punched the ground with fury after Phil Foden scored Manchester City's fourth goal against Manchester United on Sunday afternoon. He did not think he would concede four goals in 45 minutes again this season after the Brentford debacle.

City scored those four goals in front of the Etihad's South Stand, where United's supporters were housed and thus forced to watch as Foden danced with Erling Haaland in celebration in the corner. That was enough for some of the travelling contingent to stomach, with a stream of supporters choosing to leave the Etihad before the referee's whistle halted the onslaught that was unfolding.

Sir Alex Ferguson's face then emerged on the TV screen and he looked like he wanted to join the supporters that were dashing for the inviting Etihad exit doors. Ferguson trudged back into his box at half-time instead and he sheepishly emerged after the break, with the performance invoking unwelcome memories of his side's own 6-1 defeat by City at Old Trafford in October 2011.

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United's performance was horrific on that afternoon and the defeat suitably came a week before Halloween. It was said that Ferguson has since refused to talk about that 6-1 humiliation but it would have been playing on his mind at half-time on Sunday.

Ferguson infamously claimed in 2009 that Man City would never be favourites heading into a Manchester derby, as he did not think such a significant power shift in Manchester over a decade would be possible, but it has been and that was sobering this weekend.

United should not concede six goals in any football match, never mind against their rivals, and it was another unacceptable performance, but