Man United 1 : Man City 6

Manchester City went five points clear at the top of the Premier League after a resounding 6-1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Mario Balotelli and substitute Edin Dzeko snared doubles with Sergio Aguero and David Silva also scoring for the visitors, while Darren Fletcher scored a consolation and Jonny Evans was sent off for United.

Despite dominating possession early on, United failed to find a way to get a shot at Joe Hart's goal and were made to pay when James Milner cut into the area and fed Balotelli, who slotted the ball home expertly to put the visitors into the lead.

United had to resort to long-range efforts in the first half amid some resolute defending from the visitors, with Hart tested through shots from Wayne Rooney and Anderson.

Within the first minute of the second half things went from bad to worse for the home side as Evans was sent off for tugging the arm of Balotelli when the Italian looked to run through on goal.

Just before the hour mark the blue half of Manchester were given further joy as Milner crossed to the unmarked Balotelli, who tapped in at the back post to double the lead.

City fullback Micah Richards was the architect of the third goal, racing down the right before crossing to the back post for Aguero to knock home.

United found what proved a mere consolation through a sublime Fletcher strike from the edge of the area, but any hopes of a United comeback were snuffed out when Joleon Lescott put the ball into Dzeko's path, who hit the ball with his knee and into the net.

The humiliation was complete a minute later as Dzeko turned from goalscorer to provider as he set up Silva, before the Bosnian completed the remarkable rout with a cool finish past David De Gea.