UNITED dropped their first points of the season as City battled back for a draw at Old Trafford.
Ruud van Nistelrooy put United ahead just before the break with an opportunist strike.
But City, with new steel under boss Stuart Pearce, struck back when Joey Barton prodded home.
Andy Cole almost snatched it for the Blues - evoking memories of Dennis Law's effort in 1974 - but he was thwarted by a superb last minute save by Edwin van der Sar.
A City win might have been tough luck on United, who dominated most of the contest, but Pearce is moulding a fiercely determined side at Eastlands. Not that Sir Alex Ferguson will take any comfort from that.
Once again in his programme notes he reminded his team of the need to win their matches to keep pace with Chelsea. But as Jose Mourinho's side were winning again, his team dropped their first points of the campaign.
In the corresponding fixture last season, Kevin Keegan ditched his attacking philosophy to grind out a goalless draw, a move Pearce was largely credited with being the brains behind.
This time around, City were slightly less negative, but just as organised, retaining their shape and largely subduing a United midfield lacking a rested Roy Keane, although United might have been able to play with more freedom had referee Steve Bennett awarded the hosts a first-minute penalty when Ben Thatcher sent Rooney tumbling.
Frustration
Despite his obvious frustration, the England striker just about managed to keep his fragile temper in check on that occasion and although their were flashes of teenage angst throughout the half, there was no loss of control on the scale of that shown in Belfast.
In fact, the biggest problem Rooney had was of his own making. Three times, the £27million forward broke clear of City challenges then slipped to the ground with no-one near him.
Balance issues aside, Rooney looked more likely to create an opening than anyone else on the pitch and typically, it was the 19-year-old who set up United's first opportunity, turning brilliantly after taking Alan Smith's pass with his back to goal before sending Park racing into the area.
Unfortunately for the South Korean, his first touch took him wide and his shot, though well hit, fizzed beyond the far post.
Before the opening period entered its one crucial additional minute, the only other chance United carved out came as something of a surprise to Van Nistelrooy, who seemed to be caught out when Park flicked on John O'Shea's cross.
The Dutchman did manage a first-time shot but lofted tamely over James and his goal.
It was another 15 minutes before the pair came face to face again and this time Van Nistelrooy emerged victorious.
Magnificent
Amid the rancour over the offside flag which never came, James' magnificent save from Van Nistelrooy's initial flick will probably be overlooked.
Without doubt, the one-handed effort was one of the stops of the season and the discarded England keeper deserved far more than to see the rebound land straight back at Van Nistelrooy's feet, allowing the former PSV striker to ram home.
Victory could have been wrapped up within seconds of the restart when Rooney drilled a low cross to the edge of City's six-yard box. But neither Park nor Scholes could make firm contact, allowing the visitors to try and exploit growing nervousness in United ranks.
Even Rooney's electric talents gradually dimmed and the youngster responded to the abusive taunts of the City fans with a few gestures of his own.
Pretty soon though, it was Barton and Robbie Fowler who were jubilantly offering their opinions to the home support following City's unexpected equaliser
Just as James' heroics went unrewarded earlier, so Van der Sar's reaction save from Cole's strike proved in vain as Vassell blasted the rebound towards goal, where Barton flicked it in to set up a dramatic finale in which Cole so nearly supplied the killer touch.
What was your verdict on the game? Have your say.
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Disappointed with the draw. We are a far better team than utd now, and anything less thank 3 points at the coms will be poor.
Still ahead of the scum though, so all in all not too bad.
i am so so disappointed 4 the result!!! after 2 night i realize tht MU facing a very serious problem!! i am a crary fans 4 MU but i really feel tht Mu cant win the champion with this type of player,the style they play and attacking style!MU dun hv a sharp striker and a well play maker!! MU like cant find the way in attacking!! 2 bad!! i cant understand y MU dun choose 2 sign a well play maker!! it is so so importand!!! no play maker means no champion! we really need one ,pls sign a good play maker 4 MU ok?? if not...... 2night rooney not really play well and it make MU lost the way in attacking!! The whole team like alr forget the way 2 attack!! hai..
SAF pls wake up and do something ok???
i dun hope it keeping happenning!!
Gerry, where are you?
What a weak performance. Our passing was atrocious. What on earth is Darren Fletcher doing in the side? What's he doing in the squad at all? He's got no vision and he's too slow both in running and thinking. Same for O'shea. No ideas at all. No aggresion. Maybe we should replace Sir with Pearce for that. Where exacty is Scholes these days? And Silvestre, my god. Off go Chelsea. Do we honestly believe we can win trophies with this lot?
The sequel:
SEASON 2004-5 II
im fed up of so called football fans slagging off alan smith for every flair player you need a gutsy one who will do the job to the best of his ability and will work for the team. i am not convinced he is a midfielder but knowing the guy well he wont give up without a fight. fair enough he doesnt score enough goals as a striker and that he probably isnt the next roy keane either but in my humble opinion its better to be yourself and knowing what alans like hed rather be praised for playing the game his way rather than being a substitute or mould of keane. it wasnt a dreadful performance by man u it was a spirited display by both sides and its too early in the season to predict a fate for either side.
WE WANT THE 4-4-2 with 2 atacking wingers!!
I won't slag the team. We had to drop points at some stage and City are on fire at the moment, despite which, we controlled the match and were unlucky not to win. Yes, despite Andy's late chance. Very happy with Smith's performance, he might just be the solution to our midfield woes. Fletcher was back to his worst - sometimes you can't help but think its true that with him in the side its like we are playing with 10 men. Or maybe he was tired after the internationals. Surely Fergie now cant justify leaving Smith out of the team with Fletcher in it. It was amazing how much space our midfield had today with Smith in there - he and Keane can have a terrific partnership. Van De Sar IS the new Schmeicel - he has already gained us 3 points - 1 today and 2 in the Everton game.
we need a new cm and a new striker. Saha has to be sold and Carlos Tevez has to be bought. He wore an Utd shirt during a press conference.. That tells ya all. We need more killer instinct. Bayern Munich were in the same situation like us today. But their issue is BALLACK. He BROKE Nurembergs hearts and scored the winner. Scholesy is a faboulus player but he is not a playermaker. We need Ballack. He is the best you can get on the market. Eventually we should try to swoop for Gerrard in summer but BAllack IS A MC<sup>TM</sup>ST IN JANUARY!!!!! GO FOR HIM OR WE WILL END UP WITH NOTHING!!!! nothing! NADA! it aint the standards united legends once set! people like Denis Violett and Sir MAt came to United to produce magic but this is just redicoulus. COME ON YOU YANK! GIVE US SOME CASH!!!!!! COME ON! Do you hear me!? COME ON!
boo hoo!, 2 shots on target all game and Manchester had 3 - we were lucky to get a point in the end. Manchester were more up for it than us and Andrew Cole came very close to winning it for Manchester in the end - great save. I think we should sack ferguson now as we need some new ideas at trafford and players and fans.........
nice to see some of the local fans are back already
B#850,000,000 PLUS INTEREST @ 20%
Hell What are we to do?
Certain feelings of deja vu from last year. A lack of ingenuity, build up is too slow and no capacity to fightback when things go against us. Seriously, boring, boring!! More worrying, it has been the same for last few seasons now. Does SAF really watch the same matches as we do? Fletcher too slow, awful passing, lack of creativity, when will SAF realise!! Smith, a replacement for Keane? Get real!! He was atrocious today and besides, if he plays in new midfield berth all season, we are guaranteed more than a few sending offs!! Add to this, a detiorating Scholes and Giggs, Keane on his last legs and we can start waving Chelsea goodbye!! SAF said he would only spend to improve the players we already have, great gag!! Perhaps it is time we replaced him.
United were very lucky,CTID.
I thought we did control the game in a match City was expected to put up a fight, and the half time lead should have sailed us to another win had we played more aggressively after the break to score a second. Our problem remains in the lack of width with the 433 formation. It is perhaps the time for Sir Alex to give Richardson the breakthrough on the left with Ron on the right and weave attacks from the franks so that Ruud and Roon would have more spaces in the middle to tuck in the goals. Drawing City was disappointing but we have not yet reached the crisis point. However, the team formation, not the quality of players, is a fundamental problem that Sir Alex must address quickly if we were to take Chelsea to the wire for the championship. We can if Sir Alex will admit to the problem and address it.
Remember there are 2 teams in Manchester these days.Manchester City and Manchester City reserves,just thought Id drop in a quick witicism to stop all the Redsox glory hunters from crying in their beer boo hoo boo hoo boo hoo,watching the Redsox drop points at the theatre of shattered dreams is about the best fun you can have whilst fully clothed boo hoo boo hoo boo hoo boo hoo
Still gonna win the premier league,champions league and FA cup then??????ME THINKS NOT,concentrate on the league cup or whatever its called nowadays because realistically thats your ownly hope of winning owt,remember the meister is seldom wrong
Well that's Chelsea off and away there'll be no catching them now. Sorry to finish your season but you can still play for second against Arsenal. That's if we don't take it!! CTID!
the whole midfeild was rubbish . lets take the blinkers of before we play anyone with a sniff of cla ss ( city are rubbish
the midfield is last > smith ( one dimension ) keane ( great player , but hes had his day)
scholes ( lost his form and flair) fletcher ( ugh! nothing needs to be said ) park ( the jurys still out , but definately not a world beater)
this team cannot challenge arsenal never mind chelski.
wholesale changes needed.
Just wondering if Mr Alias Smith is still over the moon,or if hes stuck on the M6 southbound crying and pondering whether or not these long journeys to the theatre of shattered dreams are worth the hassle anymore.What with the cost of fuel and inevitable increase in ticket prices etc etc etc,oh I nearly forgot, I bet you dont go to the match anyway like all the other "just cant get a ticket" brigade
Sick as a parrot really that the Manchester team dropped 2 points
Fletcher and Smith is costing United to much,they are not UTD material.
Fergie tinkers for the first time this season. Points are dropped for the first time this season. Enough said.
All the local fans are at FC United mate
Oh Gerry...come out come out wherever you are...