Top five performances from United in the Manchester derby against City

Matt Jones - Editor 01:27 13/11/2018
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  • Just because we’ve documented their five worst, we’d thought we’d cheer Manchester United fans up with their five best performances against their noisy neighbours in the Premier League era.

    United have presided over Manchester with an iron fist for the majority of 124-year existence of the Manchester derby – but things have been totally turned on their head over the last decade.

    The acquisition of Manchester City by the Abu Dhabi United Group in August 2008 was always going to have massive ramifications on football in England as well as one of England’s most famous footballing cities – and so it has proved.

    It took a few years for City to gain a foothold but they are undoubtedly the dominant force in the city now – and the Premier League as a whole.

    Of the 21 Premier League encounters between the city rivals over the last 10 years, both sides can boast nine wins apiece, with the blue half of Manchester drawing level with the reds following their Sunday stroll to three points at the Etihad, with David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Ilkay Gundogan netting in a 3-1 win for Pep Guardiola’s side.

    With the balance in power having well and truly shifted, here we give United fans something to cling to by taking a look at five of the best performances in the Premier League era.

    April 7, 2018: City 2 United 3

    PaulPogbaManUnitedManCity

    A game that will live long in the memory of United fans, even though it probably shouldn’t. In the face of City’s increasing strength and brilliance, this comeback from 2-0 down is up there with anything United have achieved over the years.

    But they should have been out of it at the break, such was City’s utter dominance. Raheem Sterling squandered several chances as the home side battered Jose Mourinho’s lacklustre visitors in the opening 45 minutes – Vincent Kompany and Gundogan striking within five minutes of each other to put City in the driving seat and on course for the title.

    They would have won it against their rivals had they held on to the win – but United stirred after the break. Paul Pogba was incredible and sparked the fightback. From 2-0 down his quickfire brace made it 2-2 with 10 minutes of the second half gone.

    Chris Smalling proved an unlikely matchwinner and even though City still strolled to the title, this will irk City and delight United fans for years to come.

    December 9, 2012: City 2 United 3

    Van Persie City

    The Manchester derby at its finest – and also at its ugliest. This was a proper rivalry game with Wayne Rooney lighting the blue touch paper with a first half brace to put the visitors in command.

    City fought back though as goals from Yaya Toure and Pablo Zabaleta put Roberto Mancini’s men level with the game entering its closing moments.

    Sir Alex Ferguson had prised Robin van Persie away from Arsenal’s bosom in the summer and the Dutchman would go on to have a devastating impact as United lifted a 20th title in the Scot’s final campaign at the helm.

    And it was Van Persie who would have the decisive say here, his free-kick flicked off Samir Nasri and beyond Joe Hart to spark wild celebrations. Ugly scenes followed as Rio Ferdinand suffered a cut eye when struck by an object thrown from the crowd, and City keeper Hart had to restrain a pitch invader as he advanced towards the United defender.

    January 27, 2010: United 3 City 1

    rooney-(Read-Only)

    A sweet Carling Cup semi-final triumph for United, although this was arguably where the tide started to turn for City.

    The blue half of Manchester had been cheering a 2-1 win in the first leg of this clash thanks to a Carlos Tevez brace. But the return leg a week later had a familiar ending in a spellbinding encounter.

    After a goalless first half, Paul Scholes drilled United ahead early in the second and Michael Carrick turned the tie on its head when he steered in a second as the balance shifted towards the home side. But Tevez’s acrobatic backheel five minutes later made it all square in a tie that was heading for extra-time.

    Rooney had other ideas and after Shay Given had saved superbly from Darren Fletcher, Ryan Giggs delivered an inch-perfect ball into the box and Rooney emphatically headed in to take United into the final – where they beat Aston Villa 2-1.

    September 20, 2009: United 4 City 3

    Michael Owen City

    WHAT. A. GAME. United, or rather Ferdinand, looked to have thrown it away when Craig Bellamy scored for City to make it 3-3 just as the clock ticked past 90 minutes.

    An enthralling game from the off as Tevez, back at his former club for the first time after his acrimonious switch across the city, threatened to return to haunt United in a game that had everything – apart from decent defending.

    Rooney put United ahead after two minutes but Tevez pounced on poor Ben Foster goalkeeping to tee up Gareth Barry. Bellamy twice responded to pinpoint Fletcher headers – the first a thunderous 25-yard rocket – before pouncing on Ferdinard’s horrendous attempt at a chipped pass to race clear from halfway and make it 3-3.

    But there was one final twist. In the sixth minute of added time, Giggs’ calm pass picked out Michael Owen and he poked beyond Given to spark wild scenes.

    November 7, 1993: City 2 United 3

    Roy Keane

    Let’s go back to a time most modern football fans might not remember, just the second ever Premier League season. It’s November 1993 and Niall Quinn heads City into a 2-0 lead at Maine Road against their illustrious rivals – who are just at the start of their journey to becoming English football’s juggernauts following their title triumph the previous season – a maiden championship in 26 years.

    Michel Vonk’s mistakes gift-wraps a chance to Eric Cantona who pulls one back, with the Frenchman then equalising 13 minutes from time when getting on the end of Giggs’ sublime cross.

    United aren’t done and in a sign of things to come occurs as they strike late to clinch a thrilling win. Roy Keane is on the end of Denis Irwin’s dangerous delivery to make it 3-2 with four minutes left.

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