FOR Manchester City fans too young to enjoy the magnificence of Colin Bell, Francis Lee and Mike Summerbee, derby days could often be a miserable experience.
Their bitter rivals would swan down to Maine Road and invariably leave with all three points or host at Old Trafford, swaggering around like fabled princes. It was an era that saw Sir Alex Ferguson’s men hoover up silverware by the plenty while their quietened neighbours succumbed to repeated bouts of farce, flailing their way down to the third tier.
This huge disparity was regularly reflected in the score-lines on the occasions they met with City very much cast as the underdog. That all began to change in 2008 with the Blues’ transformative takeover affording them the opportunity to level the playing fields and soon after emerge as the dominant force in this fixture, a seismic power shift in Mancunian football that would have been unimaginable until so recently.
It’s a reversal of fortunes that has led to City coming out on top more times than not in the past decade with victories that have sometimes been as meaningful as they were wildly celebrated. These five in particular stand out:
5) Man City 4-1 Man Utd (September, 2013)
If three of the examples below can be viewed as significant milestones as the rivalry altered beyond all recognition this was City reaching its destination, putting up its feet, and enjoying the beautiful landscape with a glass of something bubbly. For many fans this was the first time in a lifetime that a Derby could be thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish and with the result never in doubt Manuel Pellegrini’s side similarly revelled in their superiority.
The anticipated duel between Yaya Toure and Marouane Fellaini proved to be a hopeless mismatch; Sergio Aguero mercilessly tortured the aging limbs of Rio Ferdinand; and across every area of the pitch City were fluid and cavalier while United hinted heavily at the crisis that was looming under new boss David Moyes. Six months after administering this one-sided spanking City again won by a three-goal margin at Old Trafford with Moyes insisting in a post-match interview that his side should ‘aspire’ to reach City’s standard. There was no coming back from that.
⏪ The Big Match Rewind!
Man City 4-1 @ManUtd [2013]
⚽️ @aguerosergiokun (16', 47')
⚽️ @YayaToure (45+1')
⚽️ @SamNasri19 (50')
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⚽️ Wayne Rooney (87')#MUNMCI @Carabao_Cup pic.twitter.com/DIhhP3wrbF— Man City Xtra (@City_Xtra) January 6, 2020
4) Man City 1-0 Man Utd (April, 2011)
It’s difficult to overstate the role this tensely contested triumph played in City’s rise to prominence. To beat Manchester United was one thing: to do so in a FA Cup semi at Wembley to reach a first cup final for 30 years was quite another. In a single afternoon, long-accumulated insecurities were exorcised and a collective belief came to the fore that anything from this day forward was possible.
To this point, City’s derby record post-takeover had continued to dishearten with five losses – that included a two-legged League Cup semi – and a draw intimating that United remained the top dogs for all the progress being made. This singular game, courtesy of a Yaya Toure strike and a couple of Berbatov howlers, comprehensively changed that narrative.
It could be argued that this was the drunkest half of Wembley has ever been and a sending off for Paul Scholes and the sight of Mario Balotelli trolling Ferdinand on the final whistle only added a comedic gloss to a quite wonderful weekend.
3) Man City 5-1 Man Utd (September, 1989)
If years of relative mediocrity preceded this game what followed was a hopeless decline into ‘Cityitis’ that saw a famous old club become a national punchline for their unerring ability to pluck absurdity from the jaws of hope. United meanwhile soared, then continued to soar some more. What sustained Blues throughout this bleak and prolonged period was one-upmanship in the form of Maine Road being situated in Manchester while Old Trafford is not – a boast that in hindsight can be compared to throwing stones at the Death Star – and the comfort-blanket memories of this sublime anomaly.
Five home-grown kids walked onto the Maine Road pitch that day to take on a side packed with internationals that had been expensively refurbished that summer. They knew how much a win against the odds meant to the fans. They wanted it more. The game’s iconic moments were freeze-framed on posters while a VHS tape of the highlights was stored away for the many rainy days to come. It sustained us.
2) Man City 1-0 Man Utd (April, 2012)
A record worldwide audience tuned in while up in the stands Sergio Aguero’s father-in-law Diego Maradona watched on and the reason for such heightened anticipation was that this was a title decider in all-but-name. A month earlier United boasted an eight-point lead but now found themselves a defeat away from slipping to second on goal difference with just two fixtures left.
That was exactly what transpired when Vincent Kompany rose majestically at a corner to thump one home before running to a stand entirely made up of limbs; his deranged expression suggesting he was a devout Blue who had endured the reigns of Alan Ball and Stuart Pearce. For several reasons this was an evening to forget for Sir Alex Ferguson. Firstly his side went into the game as outsiders; an event he once claimed would never happen in his lifetime. Then his overly-cautious team selection drew heavy criticism with the omission of Antonio Valencia and employment of an isolated forward revealing he was running scared.
Later came an ignoble bust-up with Roberto Mancini on the touchline and coming off second best must have stung deeply for a manager prone to bully. Lastly, he lost. That must have hurt a little bit too.
1) Man Utd 1-6 Man City (October 2011)
Routing the Reds in their own back yard and in such stylish fashion will forever sear bright for every City supporter even if the recollection will always be accompanied by a touch of frustration. Frankly, it should have been ten. Four brilliantly crafted goals were book-ended by unforgettable moments as Mario Balotelli asked why it was always him and deep into injury time David Silva released Edin Dzeko for a surreal sixth with a through-ball designed by the gods.
It was a sumptuous pass, cushioned and inch-perfect and, as much as the result, illustrated the sizable chasm opening up between the clubs. For the fans this was payback for the decades of taunts and condescension and to repeat a line I used closer to the time Gil Scott-Heron was ultimately wrong – the revolution was indeed televised.
