Man City 3 – 1 Man United

MANCHESTER City shook off their recent poor form to crush United in the 145th derby at the City of Manchester stadium.

A 3 – 1 victory, with goals from Trevor Sinclair, Darius Vassell and a last-minute stunner from Robbie Fowler meant the fans were singing the Blues as they headed home.

Before the game it was announced that City’s new loan signing Albert Riera would start in left midfield and United’s new French full back Patrice Evra also made his debut.

The game started quietly, with few chances for either team, both sides gave the ball away far too often and City’s back four dealt confidently with Rooney and van Nistelrooy.

But on 32 minutes a long ball into the United box was headed clear by Gary Neville only as far as Stephen Ireland who just pushed it back towards Sinclair.

He swivelled on the ball and slammed it across Edwin van der Sar into the corner of the goal and Sinclair was off running to the fans as the stadium erupted.

Seven minutes later and City’s lead was doubled as again yet more indecision in the United defence allowed Cole to set up Vassell who slipped past Silvestre and slipped the ball into the same corner as Sinclair.

Before half-time Ronaldo had two headers, but they were a distance from goal and both chances went wide, and Rooney succeeded in getting himself booked just before the whistle.

The second half saw United bring Alan Smith on to bolster their midfield, and debutant Evra sat out the rest of the game, but City still looked in control and began to dominate midfield.

Ronaldo’s frustration boiled over after he was heavily challenged by Stephen Jordan, the winger lost control of the ball and made a studs-up tackle on Cole – fortunately he didn’t connect.

Referee Steve Bennett really had no other option and showed Ronaldo a straight red.

City seemed to think the game was won at this point and turned off a little, beginning to over elaborate and not stick to their game plan of getting the ball out to the wing and turning the United defence.

On 76 minutes van Nistelrooy scored, a neat turn and shot through the legs of Sun Jihai, which meant a last few breathless minutes for the fans.

But the introduction of Robbie Fowler on 77 minutes steadied the ship as he began to hold the ball up and pressurise the United defence, which was beginning to show a number of gaps as they pressed for an equaliser.

And it was Fowler who sealed the victory as the ball was worked down the left wing after a throw out from David James to Kiki Musampa, who found Ireland and then fed the ball on to Vassell.

His pull back to Fowler saw the striker hit the ball sweetly with this left foot and heralded the opening bars of Blue Moon in the stands.