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 as the man of the match? Have your say.
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Can anyone of you red tell me how much you have spent on your team compared to City? United are a two man team the rest of them are a waste of time .LOVE IT
For the first time in my entire life - and I grew up in the late 60s early 70s when City usually came out on top, I really wanted United to lose after Fergie's disgraceful comments about how great the Glazers were. I hope the exodus from OT to FCUM becomes a raging torrent.Forza FCUM. retire to Florida fergie
Miss Heinze so much. Evra doesn't put extra steel on the defence. Big mistake to put Silvestre in the centre. Rio had an awful game. Neville is too slow. Big mistake putting O'Shea and Fletcher in the centre of midfield - nothing but loosing the ball. Ruud was extremely slow to react given clear chances in 1st half. Ronaldo keep the ball too long. There goes the title!!
MANCHESTER CITY FC
CHAMPIONS OF MANCHESTER 2005/6
ITS OUR CITY!
Look, if I knew SAF was DEFINITELY going at the end of the Season, going as in fired (NOT being allowed to 'retire'), then today drove me mad as it would any United fan, BUT, I would know that the re-building this Team needs, the new Manager this Team needs, would start next season. Three seasons too late in my opinion and I have been screaming for SAF to be booted out for 3 years now and called every adjective for disloyal - some reasonable some of the four letter variety. Might I once again stress that my loyalty is NOT to SAF but to Manchester United Football Club. That's why he, the Glazers, any Player, any ONE person or group of persons DO NOT get my loyalty. The Club DOES, and the sooner idiotically over-emotional United supporters stop projecting their emotions on to people and onto the Club, the better we'll all be. So, as for today, well, after 3-4 Seasons of steady decline, after 3 seasons where SAF has not bought class or world-class Central Midfielders to replace Keane when he was there and now when he is not, I am no longer surprised by defeats like today's. I still swear and curse at Ferguson and some of the players he hasn't sold lone ago, but surprised I am not. Fletcher, well I've said it before, but I have NEVER seen a United Player with such a woeful first touch in my life and I cannot also recall one with such a lack of game-reading ability via spacial awareness. Only Alan Smith come close in the latter. Silvestre has always been and always will be what is known in footballing parlance as a "muppet". Neville was and has been since being given the Captaincy somewhat comically, shocking, even by his low standards. Evra looked good to me and will be a class act, of that I have no doubt. Giggs was entirely ineffectual today and looked like someone getting too old for the rigours of top-flight Football. Rooney was awesome as ever. Even though he achieved little his hunger and work-rate were what made him and always make him awesome. Ruud was way way off the pace today and only got going deep into the second half. Resting Ruud SAF does work for Ryyd at all - never has done. Ronaldo just needs a kick , and Mr Ferguson just doesn't have this in him anymore, not until it's too late. O'Shea was of course just disinterested wherever he played. Smith came on and was, well, Smith. He just looks permanently surprised and annoyed to be playing in Central Midfield. So all in all, typical day at the office on the back of the humiliation at Burton last week which Ferguson seemed to find quite amusing and romantic so completely devoid of conscience and judgement is he nowadays. No surprise after Blackburn in mid-week. No surprise as long as SAF is at the helm. Well done City, as ever, Derby wins are your FA Cup/European Cup/Carling Cup & World Cup all rolled into one, as you have more chance of finding a Buttercup on Toss Side than ever winning anything of any repute or note-worthiness in the game called Football. So enjoy your day, your few days, whatever, and YET again let's share thoughts at the end of the seasons, for wherever United come, and we have the mother of all bad seasons this season make no mistake (this was clear when we failed yet again to buy Central Midfield class in the Summer break), we will ALWAYS be not ahead, but WAY ahead of you in EVERY sense imaginable. AGAIN I SAY, GET CAPELLO, AND GET HIM NOW!!!
This is it. Ferguson must leave. He is unable to install a winning mentality and fighting spirit in this bunch of overpaid underachievers. Any of Hiddink, Cappello, ONeill and Le Guen would do a much better job. Please win the League Cup and go.
The worst thing about Utd these days is that these results are not a surprise any more. As soon as the team was announced, a win looked unlikely. Fergie continues to display a serious lack of judgement with team selection. I wouldn't think a single Utd fan would pick Silvestre, O'Shea and Fletcher in the same team, particularly in a game like this, so why does Fergie? Because he knows better? Maybe he does, but I'm still waiting for that type of team selection to pay off. Whenever he picks a team like that we don't win, simple as that. You would think that Fergie would have spotted that by now. We are desperate for at least two decent midfielders, O'Shea is not a midfielder and Fletcher is not United quality. Fergie can buy all the defenders he wants, but we will still continue to give goals away because the midfield gets over run. Evra looks as bad as the other defenders and I dread to think how Vidic will get on. The fact is even John Terry wouldn't be able to help our defence because the management and coaching is so poor. It's Liverpool next and the thought of Gerard and Alonso against our midfield is frightening. 2nd place is now unlikely and we will have a fight on our hands from spurs and Arsenal for 3rd and 4th. The buck stops with Fergie. The pressured eased for a while when we went on a decent run against average opposition, but the performances we have suffered for the last 3 years are resurfacing. It is vital that we get a quality midfielder in January.
Ronaldo is the worst player in the history of football. The one good thing that comes out of today is that he is banned for 3 matches, so Park can play and hopefully can keep his place. Thank god Silvester will soon be replaced by Vidic, and lets hope SAF sees sense and buys Graveson. The title was lost anyway lets sell Ronaldo and move forward.
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 dont get a new manager and coach we will win nothing of any significance. Rio is good on the ball but soft and no good as a centre half.
Bad ref yes but we should have buried this City side.
Everton Birmingham Burton City.United of old would have buried such sides.
The RED on RONALDO WASNT A RED accordin 2 rules as well..
QUOTE: a red card is shown by a referee to signify that a player has been sent off following serious misconduct.
1)Serious foul play. This includes a tackle that endangers the safety of an opponent.
2)Violent conduct
3)Spitting at anyone
4)A deliberate hand ball to deny an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by any player other than a goalkeeper in his own penalty area
5)Committing an offence that denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (informally known as a professional foul)
6)Using offensive, insulting or abusive language or gestures
7) Receiving a second caution (yellow card) in one game
ronaldo did not do any of these things... not touching the player.... kept his eyes on the ball
U simply cant blame RONALDO and yes Fergie shud retire at end of season. Mr Bennet was quite wrong with da decisions he took
its worrying that once we went one down i thought we'd have huge problems gaining parity in the match. it's possibly more worrying we're getting used to this sort of result. silvetsre was a nightmare in defence and watching ronaldo is the most frustrating thing a manu fan can do. if he commands a good price we should sell him at the end of the season and buy someone who puts more balls into the box.
Ozblue beat me to it. Just why does a team costing far, far more than any other in the EPL except Chel$ki, get beaten so easily by a team costing a fraction of ManU, fail to beat a non-league team and get dumped out of Europe before Christmas, again slung out by teams costing a fraction of ours. In short, the difference is non-motivational management and scouts who are every agent's dream. Both are responsible for our non-existant midfield today, both are incompetant and both must go. Querioz, lost it Alex and never had it Martin have history and no future.
Yes I failed to mention Neville since being made captain has got worse with every game Bardsley is younger and better.Fergie will not just let go of is old failing dynisty.When will he play Vidic also agree Ruud was a bit slow to get on the ball but great goal.
Ronaldo just needs a decent coach the biggest laugh was Ferie played Sylvester to translate for Evra as if Saha could not have managed.
Also agree the ref should be looked at in detail.
I woke up at 6.30am on a sat Morning to watch my beloved team and was heart broken.
What the hell was Fergie thinking? Why did he not play Brown? Silvestre is a disaster, central midfield was shocking. To think how UNited have fallen, from the central midfield of Scholes and Keane to that of Fletcher and O'Shea. Fletcher's 1st touch is a disgrace to the red shirt and O'Shea does not add anything to the centre. Vidic can't "start" quickly enough to hopefully instill some sanity into central defence.
In my Opinion, the jury is out on Evra; he didn't have the start that Heinze had, that's for sure.
I believe Fergie really should retire at the end of the season. He has been "CEO" for 19 odd years, he has achieved a lot but football has moved on and we need some new ideas.
Personally I believe Le'Guen would do an excellent job at Old Trafford.
Well said Michael from Hampshire, I agree 100 % and this pathetic display seals it. Fergie will blame the ref for sending off Ronny but we were 2-0 down before that, playing the usual gutless, inept rubbish. I no longer pay any heed to his comments or excuses for losing a match before its started.
I hope the Glazers are not influenced by his brown nosing remarks over the past week, get rid of him in the summer and hire Capello.
By the way, love to hear all the comments from Mary, Valery and all the girls especially Louisa from Gretna.
We might not have won anything for 30 years but we have beaten you lot 3 times out of 4, and we do have an awful lot of money MORE then you. Our debt is B#84 million ( about a twelth) of yours so you know who is going to be big next year, don't you? And it doesn't play in red! We also don't make ourselves out to be something we're not- rich or successful. Small & poor we may be but we're bigger than you, wealthier than you & BETTER than you!
Despite some surprising team selections, in the first half we should still have scored with the possession and chances created. Ruud and Ronaldo should have done much better. Their goals were against the run of play. Substitutions were needed but the wrong ones were made and we totally lost our shape - never thought we'd get back even. I'd ask why was Evra picked to start in this match, why was Silvestre preferred to Brown. Why didn't Saha come on for O'Shea or Ruud as love him or hate him Fletcher was the best midfielder and all good attacking balls came through him (he was one of the MU who played ok imho - not great though). Ronaldo was obviously stupid but thaty referee gave some weird decisions nearly all in MC's favour. It just wasn't going to happen today.
Fredrik, I am entirely with you and any of those 4 will do.
Uniited had lost the game before a ball was kicked - picking Silvestre over Brown despite the obvious difference in their forms over the past few weeks. Why? According to Fergie, Silvestre was there to help Evra as they speak the same language. And this in our derby! Evra is a good player but he shouldn't have started in such a big game if it meant Brown was to be left out. And we all know Rio looks better playing alongside Wes than Mikel. As soon as I saw our centre halfs up against Cole & Vassel I feared the worst. Our forwards could have won that game if we had a solid enough base, but when playing a 4-4-2 you need two strong defenders and two quality centre midfielders. Sadly we were lacking in 3 of those positions. A good defensive base is the first step towards success - look at Chelsea and (dare I say it) Liverpool. Players like Terry and Carragher don't stand there complaining about decisions going against them, they just get the ball away from danger as all good defenders do. We needed that today but in my opinion our best defender was for some inexplicable reason left on the bench! Oh hang on, there was an explanation. Wes Brown doesn't speak French.
Who is voting for Ronaldo as man of the match, they must be City fans, cant we trade him in for a second hand Skoda.
We've made the bitters happy...that's football...Oh,Silvestre must go!
Fletcher/O'Shea in CM and SAF hoped it'd work? It's a joke! SAF please go for the sake of MU! There isn't any backbone in this team. We need strong and creative players in CM. Ours are just average. Also it seems that some players believe that wearing the MU shirt is already the pinnacle of their careers when actually it should be just the beginning. Pay them less, make them work harder. MU needs to play as a team and create combinations.
not a good day but you can,t win them all . city we will see you in europe next year. sorry you are no where near the top . i think i must of got frost bite sorry.
If any further evidence was needed that Silvestre is not good enough then the Derby provided it. He is an absolute shambles. Now that the title is over we need to bring in Vidic and Evra to play with Neville and Ferdinand. Why Smith did not start is a mystery. I agree with previous comments!! Oshea and Fletcher I think not. We should get Gravesen short term.
superb. you reds need to face up to the fact that the fear factor of playing united has gone. I think more that half of your pathetic fans will end up switching allegiance after a decade of chelsea and liverpool domination.