SIR Alex Ferguson scurried out of Eastlands with his head bowed after 10-man Manchester United suffered their third derby-day defeat in four years.
The Manchester United boss claimed the atmosphere at City’s plush new home is nowhere near as intimidating as Maine Road. But the noise at the final whistle was deafening as the ‘Blue Mooners’ were sent into orbit by a richly-deserved victory.
Trevor Sinclair and Darius Vassell took advantage of slack defending to put the hosts into a clear lead at the break.
Ruud van Nistelrooy did breathe new life into United’s dreams 15 minutes from time, after Cristiano Ronaldo had been sent off for a wild lunge at Andy Cole.
But the arrival of Robbie Fowler from the bench just signalled more misery for Ferguson’s side - and the man who revels in waving five fingers at United fans to signify the number of Liverpool’s European Cup triumphs, finished off their 11-match Premiership unbeaten run in injury-time.
There have been some pretty significant lows in this season for United, notably the Champions League losses to Lille and Benfica - but few to rank alongside this debacle.
Beaten 4-1 on this ground two seasons ago and 3-1 on their last visit to Maine Road 12 months previously, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side melted into near non-existence.
All over the field were under-performing red shirts.
Ronaldo displayed all the tricks but precious little end product until the diabolical lunge on Cole which resulted in his dismissal midway through the second half; Van Nistelrooy showed the touch of an elephant in trying to hold the ball up; Rio Ferdinand was brushed off the ball with ridiculous ease by Vassell.
Then there is Mikael Silvestre. The French defender has long since given the impression of a man out of his depth.
At no stage did Silvestre look comfortable in dealing with the combined threat of Cole and Vassell, and it was his blunder which gifted the Blues their second goal.
Amid the carnage, it was hardly surprising United new-boy Patrice Evra looked ill at ease.
Still, at a cost of £5million, Ferguson might have expected more from the former Monaco man who was comprehensively outplayed by Sinclair and eventually replaced at half-time.
Evra was certainly conspicuous by his absence when Sinclair fired City in front just after the half-hour.
It was hardly a goal out of the science manual, just a straightforward matter of desire as Stephen Ireland reacted first to reach the knockdown when Gary Neville half-cleared a Joey Barton cross.
Ireland prodded the ball on - and Sinclair, unmarked, swivelled on the edge of the six-yard box and smashed a volley into the bottom corner.
United had one chance to equalise when Ronaldo finally found a killer pass and slipped Wayne Rooney through.
One of three men - alongside Ryan Giggs and Edwin van der Sar - exempt from criticism for their dismal first-half efforts, Rooney galloped into the area but could not beat David James with his low finish.
Within minutes, City had doubled their advantage.
Yet again, there was nothing particularly special about the move.
Battle
But when Sinclair beat Evra in an aerial battle to win James’ long punt downfield it was the blue shirts who were on their toes. Cole nudged the ball on; Silvestre missed it, and Vassell drove home. It was easy, as the City fans were quick to remind their United counterparts who were squirming in their seats.
Ferguson’s decision to introduce Alan Smith at the break seemed a clear admission his midfield was too weak to counter Barton’s strong running, and it was probably no coincidence United had improved in the second half until Ronaldo was sent off.
The Portuguese youngster took the sorry walk down the tunnel, accompanied by security guards and the venom of a few thousand City voices bellowing down his ear.
Thirteen years ago, the Red Devils had also found themselves two goals adrift of City at the interval. On that occasion, they rallied to win.
Had Rooney or Ronaldo managed to find the target with half-chances not long after the re-start, another famous comeback might have been on the cards.
But by the time Van Nistelrooy rifled home his 18th goal of the campaign, there were only 15 minutes left - and the visitors were down to 10 men.
The miracle recovery never became anything more than highly unlikely, and it was left to Fowler to administer the last rites on any vestige of a United title challenge.
Who was your man of the match? Have your say.
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A moment to savour, love it just love it. Well thats bragging rights for the blues, oh yes get in there brilliant great made up and a job well done. I dare any of you reds to say it was lucky......
ONLY ONE PERSON COST US TODAYS MATCH FERGUSON. TEAM SELECTION WAS SHOCKING. HOW ON EARTH CAN YOU KEEP PUTTING SILVESTRE IN CENTRE OF DEFENCE, HAVE A MIDFIELD WITH FLETCHER & O'SHEA AND EXPECT TO WIN ANYTHING. GET GONE FERGIE YOU'VE HAD YOUR TIME.
Top draw defending from all four of our lads today. Their goal was luck, between Sun's legs and past the unsighted James. Sun might have been able to do better, but lets not forget he kept Giggs quiet for the entirety for the game. Great performance from everyone.
Fantastic. I'm just cracking the champagne!!!
Goodbye Ferguson ! Even sucking up to the Glazers wont save you now.
SAF do the honourable thing and get out, before you destroy this club, enough is enough
The master plan by Stuart Pearce worked Phew now let me get my breath back Just BRILLIANT!
C'MON YOU BLUES! What a result! Excellent defeat of those dirty reds, simply excellent! SuperCity, the best team in Manchester and all the world!
Referee was a joke and should never ref another match. What a looney bin. No doubt about it we would have stuffed City if the linesmen and ref werent dressed in their favourite BLUE, UGHH! Still we were the better side and should have won despite this.
Well done city. I haste to say. Yes they had some luck but they were better.
More committed, more disciplined.
We played a team that cost less than Ferdinand, just one utd player. Whose manager is a novice.
Compared tou SIR.
YET WE HAVE BEEN OUTPLAYED BY CITY, BLACKBURN AND HELD TO DRAW BY BURTON.
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Rudd scored but stood around with his fingers in his ear.
Ronaldo was juggling the ball without going any where. He need to be in acircus not a football team.
We dropped our best defender wes brown of late.
We didnt play saha from the start?
We are ateam of individuals and have been for some 3 yrs now.
I hate to be negative but its time Sir Alex moved ointo teh board and players like romaldo, Ruud , Sylvestre, Oshea. Fletcher moved on.
PLEASE. OR WE ARE NEVER GOING TO PROGRESS,
Stephen Ireland was magnificent so was Dunne till injured. Vassell and Sinclair give City real pace.
how good was that?!!! lots of performances worth praise- vass, tricky trev, dunney and stevie jordan for me were all top draw. riera looks tidy should be a steady signing.
Man of the match was Ronaldo, he gifted the game to the Blues. All of United's cheating and moaning couldn't make a dent in City's determination to win.
What a disappointment, as soon as I saw the midfield I thought here we go again.
Why after Browns recent displays were he not in the starting line up? Playing with Griggs and Fletcher is like playing most of the game with 9 men. How can he keep picking Sylvester who keeps making so many mistakes? Why was not Vidic on the bench he is big and powerful and can cut out crosses? Watching Fletcher is like watching a kid who is not all there playing in the local park no matter how hard he tries he will never be any good. Saha should have been on earlier.
Stuart Pearce is a novice of a manager but still has more passion than Fergie with the odd exception United had no passion, the new lad was playing pretty well so to boost his confidence Fergie takes him off.
If we donb <sup>TM</sup>t get a new manager and coach we will win nothing of any significance. Rio is good on the ball but a soft pussy and no good as a centre half.
Bad ref yes but we should have buried this crap City side.
ONLY ONE PERSON COST US TODAY'S MATCH : QUEIROZ. TEAM SELECTION WAS SHOCKING. HOW ON EARTH CAN YOU KEEP PUTTING SILVESTRE IN CENTRE OF DEFENCE, HAVE A MIDFIELD WITH FLETCHER & O'SHEA AND EXPECT TO WIN ANYTHING? GET GONE QUEIROZ, YOU'VE HAD YOUR TIME.... & TAKE GLAZER WITH YOU!
Time to go now Mr Ferguson and please shut the Door behind you.
brilliant, brilliant!
By the way, since City last won promotion, the record in league derbies is 3 won, 3 drawn, 2 lost . . .
Thanks SAF for putting Sylvester the cat in the line-up.
City are an average team play average football but luckily for them Utd were abysmal and deserved to lose rather than the Blue scum deserving to win.
Bye Bye Silvestre.
Please.
What a match! A classic! The blues fought them of.. cred too Pearce for this one! City-fans all over the world is rejoicing!
Great match!! very good win, and I was very pleased with how good fowler looked for those 15 min, he surely must start next game ahead of cole.
Only a rag could blame the officials for that result. Over-rated team, over-rated manager, over-rated club and rubbish fans.
What the news on Dunny...looked in a lot of pain..
that shows what a great team spirt we have..as for COMS and us not singing sounded very very good to me..what a great saturday night this is going to be Hark now here the city sing....
Thank you city thank you
Nice to see Mary can't spell the names of her own team. Typical I guess!
They don't like to lose do they - and as for giving credit to anyone else - it's unthinkable.
Well done blues - you were great.