MICHAEL Johnson's sublime strike ensured Manchester City maintained their 100 per cent start to the season.

The 19-year-old's effort just before half time ended a 780-minute Premiership goal drought at Eastlands.

Derby proved stubborn opponents but the Blues kept their second consecutive clean sheet to secure victory.

The result means the Blues go into Sunday’s Manchester derby in the rare position of boasting a superior position in the table to Sir Alex Ferguson’s men.

These are heady days indeed for City and while Eriksson’s global recruitment policy has not met with universal approval outside the club, results suggest his eye for talent remains in tact.

And, in handing Johnson a starting berth in successive games, the Swede can hardly be accused of not giving youth its head either.

On the evidence of Saturday’s win at West Ham, Eriksson has spent wisely, with the £8million capture of Brazil international Elano looking particularly astute.

Newly-promoted Derby, full of enthusiasm and fresh from collecting a point against Portsmouth on the opening day, presented a rather different problem.

Indeed, had Kasper Schmeichel not shown the reactions of his dad Peter in racing off his line to smother after Stephen Pearson had wriggled clear of the home defence, City would have found themselves behind.

Schmeichel was only playing because of Eriksson’s failure to secure a more experienced goalkeeper. With the Swede still on the hunt for new blood in addition to the eight fresh faces he has already acquired, a similar argument could be made about Johnson.

Attacking

Yet, one senses Eriksson has rather more faith in the teenage academy graduate.

Effective screening the City defence at Upton Park alongside Dietmar Hamann at the weekend, Johnson found himself in more attacking territory against the Rams and was rewarded with his first senior goal.

The England Under-21 international had already sent one drive searing over the Derby bar when he picked up possession just inside the visitors half.

After shrugging off three would-be tacklers before laying off a pass to fellow academy graduate Stephen Ireland, Johnson then continued his surge, collected the return ball and effectively slotted a shot past Stephen Bywater.

It might have been an unorthodox finish but it was certainly effective and ensured Eriksson took just 42 minutes to achieve what City had been attempting to do under Stuart Pearce for the previous 738.

Rolando Bianchi might have bagged a second straight goal after the re-start but his effort lacked power and Bywater was able to save at the second attempt.

City continued to look more likely to increase their lead than Derby were to equalise, although Steve Howard was not far away with a header and Schmeichel slid out to palm Craig Fagan’s cross out of harm’s way.

Substitute Geovanni embarked on a Roberto Carlos-style run-up before firing a 35-yard free-kick into fellow countryman Elano.

Bulgaria international Valeri Bojinov was eager to make an impression too after replacing Bianchi, but his penalty appeal was turned down as he crashed a cross into Tyrone Mears’ chest.

It was more or less the last chance City had as they retreated into their own half, keeping Derby at bay with the minimum of fuss to retain that winning feeling.

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