Manchester derby doesn't matter! Carrick insists beating City 'cannot repair damage' done at United this season

At the end of a week that saw Manchester United secure a Champions League quarter-final against holders Bayern Munich and Wayne Rooney score a goal that will be remembered long after this most difficult of seasons draws to a close, you could forgive David Moyes and his players for thinking that victory in Tuesday's Old Trafford derby could be the next step on the road to redemption.

No-one around Old Trafford is getting carried away, however. There have been too many ups and downs this season, too many false dawns for that.

No sooner had Moyes declared after a promising victory at Upton Park that ‘I’m not going to shout about it and say we’re starting to pick up’ than Michael Carrick stood beneath darkening East End skies and delivered an even more sombre verdict: victory over Manchester City won’t begin to make up for the failures of this season
 
Upton spark: United returned to winning ways in the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over West Ham
 
From downtown: Wayne Rooney lines up an audacious lob from just within West Ham's half of the pitch
‘I don’t think it matters,’ said the England midfielder who was forced to fill in as an emergency centre-back. ‘It’s just another game for us. A big game but it’s not going to repair any of the damage that’s been done in recent months by us losing games.
‘Beating City would help us in terms of keeping our run going. We understand the fans and the result they want, and for us as players it’s exactly the same, but we’re still not getting carried away because of the season we’ve had.’ 
Usually it’s United gearing up for a title run-in at this stage of the season. Instead, the best they can hope for is to dent City’s Premier League challenge tomorrow night.

Coming so soon after a humiliating Old Trafford defeat by their other great rivals Liverpool, it’s understandable that no-one at United is making any bold statements.

‘Losing against Liverpool at home hurts badly and it’s not a nice thing to go through,’ added Carrick. ‘It’s horrible after a game like that. You don’t watch the telly or leave the house for a couple of days if you can help it.
 
Demolition derby: United host City on Tuesday hoping to avenge defeat earlier in the season
 When you’re at this club and things aren’t going well it’s not always a nice place but mentally you have to deal with it. I think we’ve all had a tough time this season.

‘Again, Tuesday is a big game but we can’t go into that game thinking about previous weeks. We have to think we can get a good result, like we did against Olympiacos and West Ham.’

Rooney will quite rightly steal the limelight for his spectacular strike and United’s captain was also on target with the second goal.

But Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini, new signings who have not enjoyed the best of starts at Old Trafford, both delivered their best performances yet for United.
 
Special Juan: New signing Mata gave one of his best performances against West Ham after moving from Chelsea
 
Hair raising: Marouane Fellaini was another criticised player to put in an improved display in east London 
Fellaini was instrumental in helping Carrick and Phil Jones deal with West Ham’s aerial threat on a night when the champions arrived without four centre-backs, while Mata prospered in a central role behind Rooney. With Shinji Kagawa also to the fore, you wonder if Robin van Persie’s knee injury lay-off might actually benefit some of his teammates.

However, Fellaini angered Hammers boss Sam Allardyce who thought that the Belgian should have been sent off for his second-half challenge on James Tomkins. Referee Lee Mason took not action at the time and it remains to be seen if the FA have a closer look today.

‘I thought Fellaini was lucky not to get sent off,’ said Allardyce. ‘But you’ve got to be absolutely certain if you’re the referee that you’ve seen what’s happened. Hopefully, James will be okay for Hull for Wednesday.’