CITY: Hart, Richards, Kompany, Dunne, Garrido, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Hamann, Vassell, Robinho, Mwaruwari. Subs: Schmeichel, Ball, Zabaleta, Elano, Jo, Ben-Haim, Sturridge.

UNITED: van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Fletcher, Park, Rooney, Berbatov. Subs: Foster, Anderson, Giggs, Nani, O'Shea, Evans, Tevez.

Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)

CITY and United recalled £63.25million-worth of striking talent as they went head-to-head for the first time this season in an eagerly-awaited derby at Eastlands.

Despite reports surfacing that Robinho had suffered a recurrence of his ankle injury, the Brazilian frontman was fit and started in the only change to Mark Hughes' side from the one that defeated Schalke in Germany on Thursday.

Dimitar Berbatov was back for United after missing two games with a hamstring strain, with Brazilian full-back Rafael surprisingly selected ahead of John O'Shea at right-back.

Match underway:

7 mins: Rafael showing no fear, despite being up against his illustrious countryman Robinho, ranging down the right wing and beating Javier Garrido with a clever touch, but his cross was cut out. It had been a quiet, tentative start from both sides, perhaps reflective of the fact that there was only one Manchester-born player in the two squads, Daniel Sturridge, and he was on the bench.

8: United almost draw first blood and this time it was Ji-sung Park creating the chance. His right wing cross found Wayne Rooney, whose first time shot saw a nervous-looking Joe Hart inexplicably spill the ball. But Darren Fletcher could not pounce on the loose ball and the opportunity disappeared.

12: United settled first and began to dominate possession with their slick passing game, forcing a couple of corners. From the second, Cristiano Ronaldo climbed highest but could only steer his header over the bar.

15: The first physical confrontation of the game saw Micah Richards and Nemanja Vidic collide as they competed for Stephen Ireland's forward ball. Vidic took a few stud marks in the chest, but there was no intent on the City man's part.

21: First booking of the derby for Rafael da Silva, who was penalised for a push on Robinho, and tried to delay the taking of the free kick by throwing the ball away. Not what he wanted as he faced 70 minutes up against Robinho.

22: Hart tested again as Rafael's whipped cross found Dimitar Berbatov. whose glancing header brought a fine diving save from the City keeper. United dominant as City sought a spark to get them going forward.

26: Patrice Evra hooks a right-footed shot just over the bar after Rooney's near-post dart had distracted Hart and caused the ball to run free in the box. The little French full back held his face in his hands, knowing he had missed a great chance.

32: City have their first meaningful attack as van der Sar fails to get a solid punch on a free kick into the box, and Ireland's left-footed shot evades Richards' attempts to deflect it into the United net before grazing the post.

33: Fletcher becomes the first United man in the book, committing himself to a tackle on Shaun Wright-Phillips for which he was a fraction late. Robinho thumps the 30-yard free kick well wide, but at least City appeared to have weathered the Red storm.

35: Rooney's gorgeous touch sets up a United attack which ends with Berbatov slipping as he shoots, sending the ball wide.

41: Hamann squeezes a pass through ther tight United defence but Robinho is inches away from getting a touch to take it past van der Sar. Ireland becomes the third booking of the day, for kicking the ball away.

GOAL!!

42: With the ball bobbling in the box, Park forces it out to Michael Carrick on the left. His shot has Hart at full stretch to palm the ball away, leaving ROONEY with a simple tap-in for his 100th career goal.

45: Benjani fires into the side netting as City look to hit straight back.

HALF TIME: City 0 United 1
Mark Hughes played two of his cards, throwing on Elano and Zabaleta for Hamann and Vassell.

50: City starting much more brightly, and Vincent Kompany ranged forward to fire a shot wide.

55: United soon rolling forward again, and only a solid blocking tackle by Richard Dunne stopped Park from a clear shot on goal.

56: City hit the Reds on the counter-attack, Wright-Phillips slipping a clever pass through for Benjani - his first time shot crashes into the side netting, but the attack lifts the Blues fans.

59: Ronaldo booked as he chases back and brings down Wright-Phillips. He risks the wrath of ref Howard Webb by sarcastically applauding the decision.

65: City starting to give the Reds back four something to think about, and Evra is added to the names in ref Webb's book for bringing down Wright-Phillips in full flight. Garrido curls the resulting free kick wide.

RED CARD!

68: Ronaldo sent off for the second time in a derby after a deliberate handball. He rises to try to get his head on a United corner, and seems to think the ref's whistle had blown and curiously pats the ball downwards with both hands, but Webb is having none of it and sends him off for a second bookable offence.

76: Hughes ups the ante by putting on striker sub Daniel Sturridge for full back Richards.

83: Fergie looks to add some experience to his ten-man side, sending on Ryan Giggs for the disappointing Berbatov. United coping well with City's patient attacks, and looking the more threatening of the two teams as they play on the break.

85: Carrick also in the book for a cynical foul on Wright-Phillips.

90: John O'Shea replaces Park as United look shore things up for the four added minutes.

90+2: City win a corner and send Hart forward in a last-ditch bid to win it. They  nearly do as Dunne's shot is cleared off the line by Evra. But United break, and with the keeper stranded, Giggs runs the length of the field and feeds Rooney, who fires the ball goalwards from 40 yards out only to see Hart race back and somehow flap the ball away.

FULL TIME: City 0 United 1