Best of Manchester: Man City Vs Man Utd [R]

[Alan D]

One of the best matches in England, who will win in the battle of Manchester?

Kick-off is at 12:45pm GMT or 7:45am for the Man City fans who are on the East Coast of US. I'd like to think we have a chance of winning which we have and the Man City players need to pick up their game and go for the win against Man Utd. We are the underdogs and it will be tough but the City players need to play with pride and we should play Musampa on the left, now that he has come out of injury, and keep Sinclair in the right of midfield because they can both cross balls in pretty decently. I'm not going to make a prediction, because being a Man City fan, anything is possible.

[OKTerrific]

Boy Am I glad I woke up at 7:30 for this. If this halftime score was the opposite, I'd be very unhappy due to my lack of sufficient sleep. This, so far, has been more than worth it.

[Liv'poolFaninAZ]

Your club is doing an amazing job!! I hope you can put 2 more past them in the 2nd half. Absolutely brilliant so far, plus anytime you get to see rooney throw a tantrum like the little spoiled kid that he is, it always makes for great comedy! come on City!!

[OKTerrific]

Woooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!
Woooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!

[OKTerrific]

Rooney would have been best served with a good kick in his awful teeth. Christiano Ronaldo is almost as fruity as Rooney.

CITY!!!!!!!!!

[Milos]

Well done to the boys in blue. A great win for them.

[Numquam Moribimur]

enjoy your cup final ........

[352gialloblu]

Well done citeh, well done.

[MtP07]

30 Years

[Big_Bad_Mcnabb]

Great result for You guys. Is Fowler likely to get any starts coming up?
Have to say i thought that Vassell had probabily the best game that i have ever seen of him.

[white riot]

Yeah, well done City.

[Alan D]

Apart from a few of the jealous United fans, thanks for the responses ;) The Man City squad deserve all the credit they get for their performance against Man United. Vassell had a particularly good game, getting a goal and assisting Fowler and its good to see him scoring another goal. Fowler has scored four goals in two games now, so it is giving Pearce a good problem about who should be our starting strikers for matches.

Fowler will probably be given quite a few first-team starts soon, considering that Cole isn't getting any younger so he might miss out on one or two matches and if Fowler keeps scoring goals then he is bound to have chances and start games. The decision against Ronaldo was harsh it was a bad tackle to make.

European football looks possible again and we need to play like that in every match we play! :D

Here is a match report for anyone who is interested:

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Manchester City secured a gritty 3-1 derby success over 10-man United at The City of Manchester Stadium.

Goals from Trevor Sinclair and Darius Vassell gave City a commanding lead at the break and United's task only seemed harder when Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off on 66 minutes.

But ace goal poacher Ruud van Nistelrooy pulled one back with 15 minutes left, only for City to hang on for a deserved, and much-needed, three points, which were wrapped up by an injury time Robbie Fowler strike.

Former United striker Andy Cole took advantage of sloppy play from Mikael Silvestre to have the first crack at goal, but his shot was comfortably saved by Edwin van der Sar.

Wayne Rooney was prompting from all angles and his cross to van Nistelrooy forced Richard Dunne into a crucial block, while the Dutch striker then got a pass from his team-mate caught under his feet.

Patrice Evra sought to make an impression on his Red Devils debut, but he would perhaps have been counselled against trying his luck with a weak effort from 40 yards.

Possession was too easily coughed up in the first half, with City the more culpable of the two rivals.

Rooney flashed a header just wide of the post, and then shot over, before City made the breakthrough on 32 minutes.

Gary Neville's headed clearance dropped to Stephen Ireland, who turned the ball back into the box, where Sinclair swivelled sharply and lashed a crisp volley beyond van der Sar. United appealed for offside, but Sinclair was just on, although Vassell had strayed fractionally offside when the initial cross was whipped in.

United could have quickly drawn level after Ronaldo slip a pass into the path of Rooney, but the onrushing David James saved importantly with his legs.

After surviving the let-off, City scored a second goal on 39 minutes. James pumped the ball downfield and Sinclair rose above Evra to flick the ball on.

Cole's mis-control only served to deflect the ball to Vassell, who showed composure to slide his shot past an exposed van der Sar.

Twice in the closing minutes of the first half, Ronaldo could have scored with headers, while van der Sar tipped a Cole piledriver over the bar.

Rooney's exasperation boiled over in injury time as he was booked for dissent by Steve Bennett after remonstrating with the referee for failing to penalise Stephen Jordan for a foul.

Evra was withdrawn at the break, with Alan Smith brought on to inject more drive into a plodding United midfield, but the substitution had little impact.

The Red Devils threatened sporadically, with Ronaldo shooting straight at James, but for all the visitors' pressure, the City keeper was rarely troubled.

One fleeting moment of anxiety for James arrived just past the hour mark when Rooney's fizzing low drive flew just past the upright.

United's prospects of getting something out of the game appeared to deteriorate on 66 minutes when Ronaldo was sent off. The Portuguese winger, incensed at failing to be awarded a free kick following a robust Jordan tackle, leaped into a challenge with Cole with his foot raised and Bennett deemed Ronaldo to have shown dangerous intent.

Neville was denied a shooting opportunity by good City defending, while substitute Louis Saha prompted James to make a simple save.

The visitors grasped a lifeline with 15 minutes remaining when Giggs clipped the ball into the penalty area. Van Nistelrooy brought it under control with his chest and then turned swiftly to drill a low shot past a rooted James.

City refused to sit back and protect their lead, and could have made more of an opportunity when Ireland took too long to pick out a team-mate after outfoxing Silvestre.

The hosts had chances to put a seal on the win, but Vassell failed to play in the unmarked Sinclair, who was then denied by the legs of van der Sar.

With United pushing forward for an equaliser in injury time, City broke to clinical effect as Fowler swept home in unerring fashion to sew up the bragging rights for his side.

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Player Ratings: http://home.skysports.com/matchratings.asp?fxid=278817

[Alan D]

Stuart Pearce was delighted Manchester City came through a test of character in the derby win over United.

City picked up a 3-1 victory over their local rivals to return to winning ways after a miserable run of form over Christmas.

Pearce believes his players' performance was a great testament to his side's character and he felt City were fully deserving of the three points.

"I think if you look at the recent history, over the Christmas period we took one point out of 12," Pearce told Sky Sports 1.

"To go and face a United side, with the talent they've got, having got only one point out of 12, when you are a little low confidence and to pour it on like that⿦

"They deserved it. They looked the team up for a derby match.

"We took our chances when they came. United push you to the wire and they are a great side.

"I'm pleased for the players. They deserved that. They had some tough games and they deserved everything today."

Pearce admits that, while outside forces were questioning City, he never had a moment's doubt about his players' ability.

He added: "I don't doubt them and the only one (opinion) that matters at the football club, apart from the chairman, is mine.

"I always had confidence in the players. It is a mark of character when the chips are down. Can you come and stand up and say 'you're not rolling me over'.

"I'm very pleased for them. They deserved that victory

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http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=353443&CPID=8&clid=&lid=&title=Pearce+tribute+to+players

[Frankfurt Blue]

What a cracker that was. I predicted us to lose 2-1, so don't mind losing on that (predictions league I am playing in). Managed to find someone who has Premiere here nearby who wasn't in need of their TV for when the game was on and managed to get there 5 minutes before the first goal.
Sinclair played very well, as did Ireland. Vassell was the best man for City today though as he made the Rags defence look Conference standard. Ferdinand was woeful (how much?) and Silvestre was diabolical, not that I am complaining. :)
Distin and Dunne did well, until Dunne's unfortunate departure. Been unable to see City much at all, but Onuoha was brilliant coming on under the circumstances. Jordan looked dodgy at times in my opinion, but Sun I am sorry to say, was quite poor. Sun's passing at times was embarrassing.
I had a feeling that United would score when they did, since the commentator also noted that the players, especially midfield were unable to get their foot on the ball and keep it between themselves.
Robbie Fowler's goal at the end in Ferguson time added on just put the icing on the cake.

Well done the team and especially SP.

[Alan D]

I think that win could help us alot in the transfer window because Man City have shown that they can beat big teams in the world like Man Utd and it may attract more players to the club.

[Frankfurt Blue]

I think that win could help us alot in the transfer window because Man City have shown that they can beat big teams in the world like Man Utd and it may attract more players to the club.

That's a very good point. Not considered that factor at all. Maybe that's been the problem thus far in attracting players who have then chosen other clubs over City.
Definitely need someone else in midfield to back Joey up, as you can see that it is missing Reyna.
Wasn't so impressed with Riera, but I suppose it's very early days yet.

[Alan D]

I thought Reira had a solid debut and performance, but it might be worth giving Musampa a chance next match because I think he did well when he came on.

[dude8]

congrats on a great win. massive. well done.

[marakana10]

Congrads Manchester City, very well done. I just watched the game here on the West coast in California, the replay. The back 4 were very solid and I think the addition of Riera was a great one. He probably had the best touch on the pitch today. And good to see Fowler get a goal. I'm glad for the fans as well as Pearce. He's worked very hard to get here.

[NER_MCFC]

I really must remember to tape this Wednesday when it runs on my local Fox Sports Cable Channel.
Yay!