Hughes - United were too good

Hughes: Work in progress at Eastlands

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Mark Hughes admits that Manchester United continue to set the standard in the Premier League.

The Manchester City boss tasted derby day defeat against the Red Devils on Sunday, with the Blues slipping to a 1-0 defeat at Eastlands.

The game was billed as a clash between Manchester's established force and the upcoming hopefuls.

With City now regarded as the richest club in the world following a takeover from the Abu Dhabi United Group, they have aspirations of one day eclipsing their fiercest foes.

However, Hughes admits that there is some way to go before that dream becomes a reality.

Trophies

"We played a very good side today," he told Sky Sports.

"They used their experience at the end to kill the game and break up our momentum.

"They have that because of the experience they have and the trophies they have won.

"Now, we are not in that position. We aspire to that and that's where the club will go in the future."

Response

A solitary strike from Wayne Rooney was enough to settle Sunday's contest, although Hughes was pleased with the determination shown by his side after falling behind just three minutes before the interval.

"We had opportunities but we needed to assert ourselves in the first half and we weren't able to do that," he said.

"United were a bit sharper to the ball and we couldn't get a foothold. I thought we were a lot better in the second half, we forced the game.

"On occasions we broke well but on occasions we were knocked over. Overall, we are disappointed because we haven't won the match but in the second half we needed a response and we got that."

Dismissal

The biggest talking point of the day involved United ace Cristiano Ronaldo, who was dismissed for a bizarre handball incident on 68 minutes.

Hughes admits the Portuguese winger will be disappointed to have seen red in such controversial circumstances, but believes referee Howard Webb was left with no option in the eyes of the law.

"I thought he was going to catch the ball!" said Hughes.

"So it was handball. It was a soft one, if you can have soft sendings off, but it was clearly a second bookable offence."