Gianluigi Donnarumma called it sublime. Old Trafford called it something else entirely. City's goalkeeper saved a stoppage-time effort from Bryan Mbeumo to preserve a 1-0 win over Manchester United, a result that keeps Enzo Maresca's side perfect after four Premier League games.

The build-up lasted barely half an hour before it descended into chaos. Phil Foden reacted to a challenge from Bruno Fernandes and was shown a straight red, a decision that left City facing more than two-thirds of the 199th Manchester derby with ten men. Fernandes appeared to kick out at Foden in the moments before the England midfielder responded, and plenty of supporters felt both players should have gone. Donnarumma was blunt about it afterwards: "The red card was harsh. Really harsh."

He was just as pointed when asked to weigh the two big calls of the afternoon. "You have to ask questions about the sending off if you're asking questions about the goal," he told Sky Sports. "But that's part of football, part of the game."

Erling Haaland settled it on the hour, his strike surviving a lengthy VAR review that seemed to take longer than the second half itself. It was his record ninth goal in Manchester derbies, and it arrived at a point when City had spent the best part of an hour digging in rather than dictating.

I loved my team-mates' performance, it was sublime.

United twice struck the woodwork, through Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo, but otherwise found precious little against a backline marshalled superbly by Marc Guehi and Ruben Dias. Mbeumo's late chance was the clearest opening they carved out, and Donnarumma dealt with it.

"I'm really happy with the performance of my team, the capacity to stay in the game and react in difficult moments," he said. "No one can take that from us. This is who we are. This is our team. This is Manchester City."

It was Maresca's first Manchester derby win, and the manner of it will linger. The result keeps City neck-and-neck with Arsenal at the top of the table, the champions leading by a single goal. Four games, four wins, and a statement afternoon in Manchester.

Donnarumma, for his part, was already looking beyond it. "We need to keep going," he said. "We have to move forward with confidence, keep our heads down, work hard, because every match is tough."

He added: "If we want to compete for major goals, we have to work hard, and I'm sure we will because we have a fantastic coach in Enzo Maresca."

And a word for the supporters who made the short trip. "We'll give everything for this shirt, this club that gives us so much and offers so much great support. It has a great history, we need to give a lot back."