What Joshua Zirkzee did before he came on summed up Manchester United's draw with Man City

David Moyes was sat in the directors' box, a reminder that Manchester United have endured worse Old Trafford derbies in recent memory.

With no title challenge, no all-Manchester FA Cup final and no threat of a managerial sacking, this was the most inconsequential derby in nearly 20 years. It lived up to its billing.

United substitute Joshua Zirkzee was so stultified he started ball-juggling during his warm up. Zirkzee briefly awoke the Stretford End with a prompt press in the 75th minute and again with a threatening half-volley. That was the second-half highlight.

City's season is not completely devoid of jeopardy, with upstarts breathing down their neck. Newcastle have two games in hand and could leapfrog them into fifth on Monday evening.

United are marooned in 13th and relegation was never a credible threat. Their regression is so stark their tactical playbook seemed to take leaves out of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's from his derby days: a back three, midfield workhorses and mercurial forwards.

The most accomplished United-related performance against City this season remains Sporting Lisbon's dismantling of them days after it was confirmed Ruben Amorim was bound for Manchester. In this sorry season of United's, they have at least gone three unbeaten in derbies, excluding the penalty shootout in the Community Shield.

United created the better opportunities against a City side without a fear factor since the moribund Manuel Pellegrini was in charge. City supporters were audibly dismayed by how toothless they were against the worst United side in decades. United have not scored in 12 games now this season.

The match ended with a United attack and a pass away from the City area. Bruno Fernandes, United's most forward-thinking