Smalling: Defenders Fear Raashford

Chris Smalling has offered a defender's perspective on Marcus Rashford's match-winning display against Manchester City, admitting he wouldn't want to mark the young Manchester United striker.

Rashford's 16th-minute strike ultimately settled the derby clash at the Etihad Stadium, as the forward raced past Blues defender Martin Demichelis and into the area to finish past Joe Hart.

City manager Manuel Pellegrini later described Demichelis as being "nervous", after the experienced centre-back was replaced just eight minutes into the second half, and Smalling says Rashford's style makes life difficult for defenders.

Smalling told MUTV: “You can see he’s always on the [defender's] shoulder and I think if I was up against him, he’s one who would certainly put fear in you! He’s done it in the previous games as well, so it’s great for him and great for us.

“It's so refreshing to see a young kid who wants to run and keep running. You could see he cramped up [at the end of the game] but that didn’t stop him – he was the man to step up."

Though it was Rashford's goal which separated the sides, Smalling was named Man of the Match for repelling the likes of Sergio Aguero and David Silva. His solid defensive display against City is something Roy Hodgson will hope for, after including the centre-back as the sole United representative in his squad for England's forthcoming friendlies with Germany and Netherlands.

"If we wanted to catch the clubs above us we had to beat them to have any chance [of finishing in the top four]," reflected Smalling on Sunday.

"We go into an international break now, and then we’ll go again, at home against Everton.”