Under way just off the M6 where the rain has fallen hard all afternoon. Slick surface, slick match?

Roberto Soldado shoots inside 30 seconds and pops it wide from 20 yards.

Image source, Getty Images

A wonderful minute's silence and we are set for go at Villa Park.

Image source, Reuters

Chocks, London: Totally agree with Patrick Barclay (see 15:53). Spurs need to give up on their fixation with the Champions League. We need continuity and a steady ship for a few seasons to go into the new stadium and then take it from there. Too much chopping and changing and it's getting us nowhere.

More from Louis van Gaal, speaking about Marcos Rojo's injury: "We have to wait and see. I am not a doctor. Maybe tomorrow I know more but I don't think he will play against Crystal Palace.

"Michael Carrick was very good, as well as Paddy McNair. I am pleased they showed that but it is disaster - so many defenders are injured and you have to play every week with a different defence.

"Despite the result, we are very close. You saw it against Chelsea and now against Manchester City. They are the two best clubs in this league and the difference is zero I think.

"When you see what we did with 10 against 11 you can be proud as a coach."

Image source, Getty Images

Tom Cleverley leads his side through a pre-match huddle. Is he pointing out where the goal is?

Football writer Patrick Barclay
MOTD2 Extra

"Aston Villa are such a big club that in the coming years they will need to achieve more but stability is all they need at the moment. The pressure is not as big on them as it is at Spurs, where expectations are excessive."

Image source, Getty Images

That's correct, remarkably. Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 20 (TWENTY) times since Villa managed to find the net...

Ron Vlaar has a steely look in his eyes as the sides line up at Villa Park. Can Villa finally score today? An incredible stat coming up...

Manuel Pellegrini told BBC Sport: "Of course it was hard. Derby games are special games for both teams. Manchester United have very good players and if you give them time and space they can decide the game.

"We worked hard and played very well until we scored but maybe after that we didn't continue to play the way we were.

"We had a lot of possession in the first 45 minutes and had two clear chances of a goal.

"We had at least one and a half penalties. For Yaya Toure it was a penalty and a sending off but we continued to play with trust that we would score.

"We have 28 games more to play, which is a lot of points. Nobody can know what will happen.

"I said last week we were in a similar position to last year. Nobody knows how it will finish but we will continue to try and retain our title."

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal, speaking to BBC Sport: "Yes [the sending off influenced the game]. That is always like that. It had a big influence on the opponent but also ourselves. Despite having 10 men we played better in the second half than the first and that is because of the willpower of the team. We created a lot of chances, they fought until the last moment but City had a very good goalkeeper. We are very close but we have to improve.

"The sending off is not one of those things. As a player you have to control your aggression. I didn't see the first yellow but the second you know as a player you have a yellow, so you have to handle it differently. I said that to the players. In the derby you have to be careful. The second yellow card was stupid."

Image source, PA

Jas Grewal:, external Great spirit from Manchester United players after being down to 10 men. I'm sure many expected us to get spanked but we coulod have got a draw.

Muhammad Owais:, external Yes City won by just one goal but had three penalties denied, and Maraoune Fellaini or Marcos Rojo might have been sent of on another day. David Silva was missed.

Ben Cotterill:, external Moyes had Vidic, Ferdinand and Evra as defenders, van Gaal has none of them and has been very unlucky with defensive injuries.

Football writer Patrick Barclay
MOTD2 Extra

"Tottenham are like a permanent torture, their ambition is to be a top four club, but they have got a 35,000 seater stadium. How many top four teams across Europe have a ground that size?

"They have just announced further delays on the construction of a new stadium, and I just think they need a period where they have the Europa League as their ambition, rather than the Champions League, and let Mauricio Pochettino work for a time in the way he would like to, without that pressure."

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert, speaking to Sky Sports about his decision to drop Gabriel Agbonlahor: "It's hard for any player who isn't playing. Gaby's been great for me - and it's the first time I've left him out since I came here. Sometimes you can get a reaction for a player too. It's just a tactical thing which may work.

"Charlie [N'Zogbia] been unlucky to be left out lately. He has that creative spark, and I hope he can combine with Christian [Benteke] to get us something.

"Ciaran Clark has done well for us in central defence, but I just feel that Nathan Baker, with his height, will help us counter the Tottenham threat better.

"We were disappointed to lose to QPR. We had so much of the ball, but you've got to finish it off."

Gabriel Agbonlahor is dropped to the bench as Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert seeks to end a run of five defeats without a goal. Charles N'Zogbia comes in, while Nathan Baker replaces Ciaran Clark in central defence.

Despite continuing to score in the cups, Harry Kane has again missed out on a place in Tottenham's league starting line-up - and is on the bench. Kyle Naughton came through Wednesday's Capital One Cup win over Brighton after recovering from ankle ligament damage, and continues at right-back; Roberto Soldado starts in attack alongside Emmanuel Adebayor.

Aston Villa starting XI: Guzan; Lowton, Vlaar, Baker, Cissokho; Westwood, Cleverley, Sanchez; Weimann, N'Zogbia, Benteke.

Tottenham starting XI: Lloris; Naughton, Kaboul (c), Vertonghen, Rose; Capoue, Chadli, Eriksen, Mason; Adebayor, Soldado.

Image source, Getty Images

Stay tuned for more reaction from the Manchester derby - but now let's turn away to events at Villa Park...

Louis van Gaal also repeatedly says his side are very close to matching the top sides. Against Chelsea last week and City today the 'difference is zero' he says.

Manchester United boss Louis Van Gaal: "I said to the boys that the willpower, the labour was unbelievable. When you can give that, you can be very proud but we have zero points and in sport it is always the goals that count.

"We were so close, despite playing with 10 men. We created more chances than in the first half. We were close but not close enough today and we have to improve.

"The first yellow card for Chris Smalling, I did not see but OK, the referee gives a yellow card. You know as a player you have a yellow and you cannot do what he did for the second yellow card. That is logical.

"I say a lot of things to the players and despite that they do not always follow what I said. There is also emotion and sometimes you cannot control your emotion but it was not very smart."

On Marcos Rojo's injury: "The shoulder is out, so you never know how long that takes. I have to wait until tomorrow but he shall not play against Crystal Palace.

"We have injuries but we still have 11 players to play and they are very good players. I don't cry for that, but it is sometimes difficult to select the best team. I think I can manage that."

Image source, Getty Images

Tom, Manchester: Sure Manchester City switched off towards the end but let's not forget the countless penalty decisions referee Michael Oliver wrongly turned down! Could have been three or four had he given them.

Anthony, Enfield: Since United have less points than they did last at this stage last season, surely people need to put David Moyes' first few months (and tenure in general) into perspective? Had a far worse squad to pick from and much harder fixtures. Van Gaal's reputation shouldn't absolve him from blame.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is upbeat despite derby day defeat. He says he is proud of his players for their performance with 10 men but it's points which count.

When asked about Chris Smalling's red card he looks disgusted. "You cannot do what he did."

Full reaction to come.

Gary Lineker
BBC Sport

"Stronger spine wins the day. Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero all terrific."