text: 'You're getting the hang of this commentary lark,' cooed Martin Tyler during Sky Sports coverage of the Manchester derby. Tyler was, of course, one half of the commentary team that was once seen as being the best of the bunch. That other half back then being his old partner Andy Gray. Nowadays, the man in the gantry alongside him is Gary Neville. And it was his zinger after United's fourth goal – 'Smalling has scored. It's a mauling for City' – that got the veteran lip mic man reaching for the platitudes. And perhaps cementing the new best partnership in the process? I'm not sure if Neville actually carries his recently won Royal Television Society Pundit of the Year award around with him? He could probably just about squeeze the perspex trophy into his inside jacket pocket if he really fancied it, but I doubt he would because I think one thing you could never accuse Neville of being is one of the extroverts among the current batch of experts. Gary Neville  in the Sky Sports studio after co-commentating with Martin Tyler for the Manchester derby . Chris Smalling is pictured scoring for Manchester United as City goalkeeper Joe Hart sees it go in . United defender Smalling was an unlikely goalscorer against City and Neville had a zinger to match it . Co-commentator Neville analysed the goal by saying: 'Smalling has scored. It's a mauling for City' Nevertheless, on his return to his old stamping ground with that new title attached, it was good to see him to turn it on even just a bit. And put in a performance that fitted both his newly anointed status and the magnitude of the occasion. Neville was all over this thrilling derby right from the get go. 'We've got a proper game of football here,' he extolled early on, almost licking his lips at the prospect. He was also quick to point out what he saw as the 'graveyard' of City's right-hand side as United punished them time and time again along the hosts' attacking left. The razor-edged corner of tongue was saved not exclusively, but certainly frequently for Yaya Toure's performance. Time and time again Gary found himself talking about the various patches of grass in which he felt Yaya should be but very rarely was. And when co-commentator Tyler did observe that he could see Toure finally picking up his man, Neville snorted his retort. 'That's nice of him.' He was in equally abrupt mood after the game when he joined Niall Quinn and Graeme Souness for what was a really sharp, incisive and no-holds-barred post-match discussion. Time and time again Neville found himself analysing Yaya Toure's poor performance for City . Toure could do little for City as they suffered a 4-2 defeat by their great rivals United at Old Trafford . Neville (right)and Sportsmail's Jamie Carragher form a dynamic Monday Night Football duo . Here Toure carried on getting it from Gary - who referred to the 'dereliction of duty' in his performance before adding that Yaya's recent form was: 'Not a conundrum anymore. He cannot do his job. Simple as that.' What's more, he was equally gobsmacked by Yaya's team-mates' lack of urgency when Aguero scored a late second. 'I can't quite work out whether to get a little bit wound up by this? I'm looking at their reaction. Is that right?' he asked. However, let's not assume this criticism is all because Gary is simply red. On discussing City's immediate Financial Fair Play-affected future, he made it quite clear where he stands. 'I'm a Manchester United fan,' he pointed out, pointlessly. 'But the last thing I want to see is Manchester City dip back down again to the second or third division because they can't challenge because there's some restrictive rule in place. 'We don't want a Real Madrid-Barcelona. We want competition.' Neville was damning in his analysis of City and freely admits he is a United fan after his years of service . Neville was gobsmacked by the City players' lack of urgency when Sergio Aguero (above) scored a second . This turned out to be not only the right moment, but also the right kind of game to make that point. Early in the coverage, host Ed Chamberlain told us 'the eyes of the football world' were watching. Over shots of a touchline teeming with camera crews, he went on to inform us there were '22 broadcasters here' and that the game was 'being beamed to over 100.' Sky Sports then went on to present those broadcasters with exemplary game coverage coupled with some lovely vignettes of the occasion. As well as a close up of the deep set, brooding eyes of Manuel Pellegrini that may haunt me for a fortnight. All in all, it was great coverage of a great game in a genuinely great league. As confirmed by a ton of countries, and Manchester's own Gary Neville.
target: Manchester United beat their rivals City 4-2 at Old Trafford on Sunday .
  Gary Neville was co-commentator with Martin Tyler for the derby .
  'Smalling has scored. It's a mauling for City,' said Neville at one point .
  The former United defender's commentary was fit for the occasion .