Given Jose Mourinho's well-aired opinions on the 'new rules' regarding penalties currently in operation in the top flight, there was irony in the knowledge Cristiano Ronaldo's success from the spot, and Darius Vassell's subsequent failure means Chelsea must now win at Arsenal tomorrow if United's visit to Stamford Bridge next Wednesday is not to become a Red Devils party.
Mourinho could have no complaints about United's award, which produced Ronaldo's 23rd goal of the season.
The winger was clearly caught by Michael Ball, with the only criticism surrounding the whole incident being that the City man was still on the pitch after an outrageous stamp on Ronaldo much earlier in the contest.
But for Mourinho the real knife-twister was that after referee Rob Styles ruled Wes Brown had bundled Ball over 11 minutes from time, Vassell could only drive his penalty straight into Edwin van der Sar's legs.
It only maintained an unhappy scoring sequence for City which condemns them to start next season knowing their last league goal on home soil came on New Year's Day.
Not that United will care a jot about that. The title may not quite be won yet but once the formalities are confirmed, it will forever be remembered in Old Trafford folklore as the season they won the league at City.
It is difficult to assess the precise impact the absence of suspended midfielder Joey Barton had on the Blues, although given the erratic state of mind which prompted the ugly training ground assault on Ousmane Dabo which now leaves the England man facing possible police action, it is probably just as well he was not let loose in such a high-octane atmosphere.
Clutching
The game was only two minutes old when Ronaldo went down amid a pile of City players clutching his stomach.
Had Styles seen Ball deliberately drive his studs into the man voted both PFA and Football Writers' Player of the Year, he would have been instantly dismissed.
Instead, Styles missed it, although it did not take long for Ferguson to view the incident again on a TV monitor.
The irate Scot came roaring out of his dug out to voice his protests at a truly disgraceful act, which, given the bad publicity City have already endured this week, the Blues could have well done without.
Ball and Ronaldo exchanged brief and unpleasant words when they tangled again shortly afterwards close to the City area and it was hardly a surprise little was seen of the United winger for half an hour or so afterwards.
Revenge, when it arrived, was very sweet indeed for Ronaldo as he goaded Ball into an ill-advised tackle. A veteran of derby-day clashes in both Liverpool and Glasgow, the full-back was not having a very good day all in all and as he made no contact with the ball and chopped at Ronaldo's legs, the penalty award was automatic.
The home fans did their best to put the United man off, twirling some of the 40,000 blue and white scarves handed out before kick-off. But Ronaldo's resolve remained strong and he calmly sent Andreas Isaksson the wrong way.
Not that it was vintage United by any means.
Possession
The visitors enjoyed plenty of possession but the draining effects of their Champions League defeat in Milan on Wednesday were obvious and it was City who actually carved out the clearer chances.
Emile Mpenza and DaMarcus Beasley both drove shots straight at Edwin van der Sar as City pushed forward on the counter.
In the absence of Barton, teenage Academy graduate Michael Johnson showed great maturity to hold his own in the midfield exchanges and Nedum Onuoha was equally effective in quelling the threat of Wayne Rooney.
Given the appalling scoring record of Stuart Pearce's side, the hosts - and Chelsea - must have feared one goal would be enough to earn maximum points.
Paul Scholes blasted a shot straight at Isaksson at the start of the second half as United looked to give themselves a bit of extra breathing space.
Largely though, Ferguson's team contented themselves with extended keep-ball sessions, which were only interrupted briefly by City who, in fairness, were not that far off levelling when Mpenza nodded Sun Jihai's corner wide.
The big chance came near the end when Ball went down trying to force his way past Brown.
Vassell struck his shot powerfully enough, only for Van der Sar's long legs to get in the way.
What do you think? Have your say.
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RedRonny, Nairobi (05/05/2007 at 16:55)
de Meester, netherlands (05/05/2007 at 16:58)
Thank You Reds.
Didn't get to hear /see any apart from the 89th minute!
No way expected a classic, and if anything the cup games have a better entertaiment value than derby games!
Now it wil be another 4 months wait for city to celebrate a home goal!
It is as good as in the bag.
Now onto the wooden bridge tio CELEBRATE!!
Lovely!
It will be a fabulous achievement by the shirts. Considering the amount of injuries we've had to endure amid a crazy hectic schedule that has exended palyers physically to the limits.
We have not gone OTT regarding the injury situation unlike another certain permiership teamn from london!
Indeed it will be a remarkable achievement, and I think the best title of all (AND THE SWEETEST!)
UP THE REDS
Morrissey's Cat, Manchester (05/05/2007 at 17:09)
I also turned down the chance to work overtime today to go to the match, so it cost me a lot of money to wave my free scarf in the air. I could have done that in my back garden for free (the neighbours already think I'm a bit strange)
The most exciting part of the match for me was when a United fan, who was sat quietly hidden amongst the city fans, couldn't help celebrating when the rags scored.
He was politely asked to leave his seat by those around him.
We all waved him off with a cheery smile and wished him well as the stewards escorted him to the seats reserved for the fans travelling from outside Manchester.
Roll on next season......
Barry Lee, USA (05/05/2007 at 17:29)
You can get away with it most weekends in the Premiership, but in Europe, no way. Why do you think we have had no success in Europe since 1999, even though we have had some great players? Because of the stupid tactical decisions SAF has made. I love the guy for what he has done, but even if we become champions he should go. I believe we cannot win the European Cup if he keeps playing players out of position and not to their strengths.
I always believed that we were 2 players short of success this season but given how far we got, with a 4-4-2 and a more ambitious outlook, we could have beaten them last Wednesday.
Gerry, Glastonbury (05/05/2007 at 17:33)
Thought Brown & Rio were the pick of our players today.
Heinze, Rooney, Giggs & Smith were very poor, Ronnie over cooked things yet again. Carrick , Scholes & Vidic did quite well. Great block by VDS. Come on you Gunners.
A Mancunian, Manchester (05/05/2007 at 18:40)
ronaldo, manchester (05/05/2007 at 19:17)
For Ball to do that to Ronaldo after what has gone on at the club, not just this week with Barton,lets not forget Thatcher.
Then to issue scarfs on the seats in a vain attempt to generate any kind of support well 'm lost for words.
Manchester City the club,your a joke and dont desreve to be in the premiership.
Manchester City supporters your an even bigger joke ,one for putting up with that garbage all season and secondly for even trying to put yourselves in the same league as United fans
the cheese, cheshire (05/05/2007 at 19:30)
Utd-For-Life, marseille ex-stretford (05/05/2007 at 19:50)
nevermind.... lets see if i can get them to accept these few words.
Well done to united and thanks to city for another easy 3 points. Not a great performance from them today, but all the same, always nice to get one over the bitters at their 'own' ground. Lets see what happens tommorrow now, although it probably would be more fun to tie up the league at the bridge.
Seeing as the city fans have been calling ronnie a diver all season, i wonder what they made of balls fancy trip in the box today. Justice was served, because fortunately city don't know how to score at home.
onto chelsea...bring it on.
TMUF, Manchester (05/05/2007 at 20:24)
Pepe (05/05/2007 at 20:49)
Joe, Malta (05/05/2007 at 21:04)
That was until Styles' gift to City. But VDS came to our rescue.
As for Ball, he continues where Thatcher and Barton left. Even City do deserve something better than Ball. Let's hope that the FA will act on this one - after all Rooney missed 3 games at the start of the season for a much less serious incident.
Father Neil (05/05/2007 at 21:17)
If that's the best wind up they can come up with......
rafidmi, sydney australia (05/05/2007 at 23:26)
xo, macau (06/05/2007 at 00:06)
Morrissey's Cat, Manchester (06/05/2007 at 00:22)
Steve in Brussels (06/05/2007 at 00:26)
Steve in Brussels (06/05/2007 at 00:43)
That should keep a number of them busy for a while
Davey Boy, Kuwait (06/05/2007 at 06:33)
manc abroad, OT (06/05/2007 at 08:45)
Great 3 points and shows how poor tactically and player wise City really are.
Roll on Wednesday and the Chel$ki.
Invisible Man, Manchester (06/05/2007 at 10:02)
Dave-K, ex-Cheadle (06/05/2007 at 12:27)
Kevin, Tralee, Eire (06/05/2007 at 12:38)
de Meester, netherlands (06/05/2007 at 12:47)
I expect that we will have to go and make sure on wednesday at the unstable bridge, that wuill be fabulous!
Thtought van der Sar - did well in the right place fopr the few shots that city got in, and as he's useless in penalties usually luckily he has long legs!
Good that the shirts have a subdued 'quiet' celebration, and let's not be like the chav$ki$ and l'ársce with the arrogance!
Come wednseday though I won't be able to containt myself much longer!
Utd-For-Life, marseille ex-stretford (06/05/2007 at 13:15)
Unbelievable.
Last summer when people like you were calling for fergie to be fired, many of us asked for you all to see how things panned out this season before writting him off, as he was in the process of building another great team.
This seasons performances have gone a long way to prove fergie right again. And he hasn't finished yet. With the lads having this seasons experiences behind them, and hopefully with some quality additions to the squad in the summer, they could be an awsome proposition next season. Do you really want to sacrifice all that just for your petty little grudge against fergie. Because that is what we would be doing if we changed the management now. Look at real madrid since they sacked the guy who won the champions league for them. They've won diddly since.