Man United 3 Man City 1
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated his Player of the Month award with a killer assist for Wayne Rooney and a crucial third goal as United went nine points clear at the top of the Premiership.
Ronaldo had barely handed back his Barclays trophy when he won the first free-kick, just ten seconds into this lunchtime contest. His assailant wasn?t Ben Thatcher, too slow out of the traps as Cristiano skipped past him; instead it was Joey Barton who steamed in to send the Reds winger flying over the South Stand touchline.
United?s first corner caused some alarm in the City rearguard as Carrick rose to glance a header wide from Giggs? curling setpiece. Another cross from the right set up Wayne Rooney for a fantastic first goal in the 5th minute.
Ronaldo took the ball down on his chest, strode defiantly towards the baying away support and whipped the yellow sphere into the box with his right foot. The low centre beat not one but two miskicking centre-halves ? the apparently solid duo of Distin and Dunne ? and landed perfectly for Rooney to gleefully grab the opener.
With the Blues reeling, the Reds almost bagged an immediate follow-up as Saha threaded a pass through to Rooney. But as Wayne bore down on goal and prepared to pull the trigger, City skipper Dunne dropped to his knees and somehow smuggled the ball away from danger. It was a fortunate escape for a frantic defence.
The only surprise about United?s bright start was the first goal preceding the inevitable first booking for Thatcher on Ronaldo. It took the Wales full-back 15 minutes to get himself in bother for a bodycheck on the Reds? number seven.
City?s other full-back, Micah Richards, lived up to his growing reputation when he came close to scoring a shock equaliser. A high ball dropped beyond the battling Vidic and Samaras on the edge of the box and the advancing Richards, under challenge
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9 Point gap
Nice dive by Carradi the bloody fool. They should hand out eggs to the fans and when arsewipes like him get caught out it should be a rule to egg the bastards as they're walking off the pitch
Too bad you had to go in and missed it. Was pure entertainment I tell ye!
I'd get it framed in an air tight mount with maybe a signed picture of him set in if that's at all possible, but I'm sure it'd be pretty hard to come by or cost bucketloads.
I knew it was going to be a tough match.
