Sunday 23/10/2011
Premier League
Manchester United crash to their first home defeat in 18 months against their cross city rivals.
In the build up to the game it was announced that club captain Nemanja Vidic wasn't ready to start as Jonny Evans retained his place at centre back, alongside Rio Ferdinand. Confirmation came from Sir Alex Ferguson that after Vidic's six week injury lay off, that he wasn't quite ready to start such a big game. Danny Welbeck was preferred to partner Wayne Rooney up front, ahead of Chicharito.
And in the opening stages it was all United, as the home team pushed City way back into their own half. Ashley Young was running rampage down the left flank drawing multiple fouls from James Milner and Micah Richards, both parties incredibly lucky to avoid yellow cards. However United were not converting this pressure into chances as the killer ball evaded them. After 22 minutes a clear cut chance came, but it was completely against the run of play, as Mario Balotelli stroked the ball home from just outside the box to give the visitors a 0-1 advantage. Balotelli was booked during the celebrations for removing his shirt and revealing a t-shirt baring the slogan "Why Always Me?" United will have felt hard done by, as up until this moment they had dominated possession 70%-30%.
The rest of the half was much more even, with neither team able to control the game. City maintained their lead going into the break, and the match was well poised for exciting second half, with United looking to turn the tie around. 2 minutes into the second half United's task got a whole lot harder, when Jonny Evans was turned on the edge of the area by Balotelli and in a desperate attempt to regain possession hauled down the Italian striker. Evans was the last man, and the red card was inevitable, United now needed to play almost the entire second half with only 10 men. They didn't let the sending affect their game, dominating the next 10 minutes, despite City having the numerical advantage. But still United couldn't find their cutting edge, and as the game wore on the away side began to impose themselves on the game.
With an hour on the clock City went two goals ahead, and it was Balotelli again who latched onto James Milner's cross. United were in real trouble, with their chances of saving the game fading. In the 69th minute it was 0-3, and it was Sergio Aguero's turn to get amongst the goals as he slotted home from close range. United's depleted defence were tiring, with the league leaders looking to increase their margin to 5 points. A glimmer of hope arrived with 10 minutes to go when Darren Fletcher played an excellence one-two with second half substitute Chicharito, to reduce the deficit to 1-3, with what was the attacking move of the game. The home crowd were invigorated and tried to spur United on, but the game was beyond them. 1-3 would have been a fair reflection of the game. However the game took a turn for the bizarre when in stoppage time City managed to score 3 more unanswered goals, two from Edin Dzeko and one from man of the match David Silva, as United fell apart at the back. The City fans went wild as their team had produced an unbelievable 1-6 win at Old Trafford.
United were stunned as they fell to their worst home defeat since 1955. There were no boo's around the ground as the team left the field, with chats of support for the home side, showing that this is nothing other than a freak result. With a quarter of the season gone United are in a stronger position than this time last season, and will be looking to get back to winning ways when they meet Aldershot Town in the Carling cup on Tuesday night.
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