text: Gary Neville has hailed Manchester United as a team that is getting ever closer to being 'the real deal' after a dominant 4-2 derby victory over City at Old Trafford on Sunday. Louis van Gaal's side took a firm grip on third place as they skipped four points clear of their arch rivals in fourth after going behind to an early goal from Sergio Aguero, who also scored a late consolation. After recent wins over Tottenham, Liverpool and now City, Neville was impressed by his former club's performance as a whole ahead of next  week's clash with Premier League leaders Chelsea. Marouane Fellaini and Ashley Young celebrate their combined efforts to put Manchester United in the lead . Fellaini headed home United's second goal getting on the end of a cross from man of the match Young . Goal-scorer Juan Mata and United boss Louis van Gaal show their delight at the end of the Manchester derby . 'I think they're getting so confident now,' he said of United, who claimed the win with goals from man of the match Ashley Young, Marouane Fellaini, Juan Mata and Chris Smalling, while Michael Carrick pulled the strings from the base of the midfield. Neville said coming into games against Spurs, Liverpool, City and Chelsea, United could have considered seven points a good result. 'They've got nine already - so that's a fantastic three performances,' he says. 'Against Spurs, you were asking the question, are they the real deal? But Spurs were poor that day, they were flakey. So then they go to Anfield and really make you sit up because that is a tough place to play no matter how Liverpool play. Young enjoyed some fortune as his commitment to get in front of his man saw him score the equaliser . City were at sixes and sevens as United took control of the match after struggling in the first 15 minutes . 'Then to come here today, especially with City starting well and going a goal up, that was a proper performance they've put in out there today.' Fellow pundit Niall Quinn declared United's performance 'the best  I've seen since the glory days of (Sir) Alex Ferguson.' Neville added: 'City have been beaten in the areas of passion, hunger and fight, but they were tactically done as well out here today. 'They couldn't handle Manchester United's position on the pitch. It wasn't just a case of Manchester City coming here and being out-fought, they were out-played.'
target: Manchester United beat Manchester City 4-2 at Old Trafford on Sunday .
  Gary Neville praised United's recent performances against big clubs .
  He said 'that was a proper performance they've put in out there today'
  Niall Quinn said it was United's best performance since Sir Alex Ferguson .