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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Man Utd 3-1 Man City | Man Utd 3-1 Man City |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Manchester United extended their Premiership lead to nine points with a win over neighbours Manchester City. | Manchester United extended their Premiership lead to nine points with a win over neighbours Manchester City. |
| Wayne Rooney turned in Cristiano Ronaldo's cross after five minutes and Louis Saha bundled home a second from a Gabriel Heinze cross on half-time. | Wayne Rooney turned in Cristiano Ronaldo's cross after five minutes and Louis Saha bundled home a second from a Gabriel Heinze cross on half-time. |
| City lost injured keeper Nicky Weaver, but Hatem Trabelsi pulled one back with a rising drive after 73 minutes. | City lost injured keeper Nicky Weaver, but Hatem Trabelsi pulled one back with a rising drive after 73 minutes. |
| Ronaldo's late strike sealed the win, before City's Bernardo Corradi was sent off for diving. | Ronaldo's late strike sealed the win, before City's Bernardo Corradi was sent off for diving. |
| City needed to make a solid start against their rivals - but United were in front after only five minutes. | City needed to make a solid start against their rivals - but United were in front after only five minutes. |
| Ronaldo's cross took a slight deflection of Sylvain Distin, but Rooney never broke stride to score with a perfect side-foot finish. | Ronaldo's cross took a slight deflection of Sylvain Distin, but Rooney never broke stride to score with a perfect side-foot finish. |
| Stuart Pearce's side responded to the early setback with real spirit, and their outstanding youngster Micah Richards was inches away from an equaliser after 19 minutes, but he headed just wide under pressure from Rio Ferdinand. | Stuart Pearce's side responded to the early setback with real spirit, and their outstanding youngster Micah Richards was inches away from an equaliser after 19 minutes, but he headed just wide under pressure from Rio Ferdinand. |
| 606: DEBATE Nine points above Chelsea - man it feels good FB 606: Have your say | 606: DEBATE Nine points above Chelsea - man it feels good FB 606: Have your say |
| Georgios Samaras then brought a fine save from Edwin van der Sar with a crisp volley. | Georgios Samaras then brought a fine save from Edwin van der Sar with a crisp volley. |
| As City attempted to battle their way into the game, Samaras stopped a goal-bound header from Richards virtually on the line, but was unable to turn it past Van der Sar. | As City attempted to battle their way into the game, Samaras stopped a goal-bound header from Richards virtually on the line, but was unable to turn it past Van der Sar. |
| City's frustration increased when United doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time - a cruel reflection of the first-half play. | City's frustration increased when United doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time - a cruel reflection of the first-half play. |
| Trabelsi carelessly played Dunne into trouble, and when he was robbed by Rooney, Gabriel Heinze crossed for Saha to bundle past Weaver. | Trabelsi carelessly played Dunne into trouble, and when he was robbed by Rooney, Gabriel Heinze crossed for Saha to bundle past Weaver. |
| Weaver sustained a knee injury in the collision and was replaced at half-time by Andreas Isaksson, the Sweden keeper making his debut after a £2m summer move from Rennes. | Weaver sustained a knee injury in the collision and was replaced at half-time by Andreas Isaksson, the Sweden keeper making his debut after a £2m summer move from Rennes. |
| Stephen Ireland also came on for the injured Claudio Reyna, and he swiftly brought another important save from Van der Sar. | Stephen Ireland also came on for the injured Claudio Reyna, and he swiftly brought another important save from Van der Sar. |
| Saha missed a glorious chance to add United's third after 52 minutes, but he shot wildly over the top after Isaksson could only block Rooney's shot. | Saha missed a glorious chance to add United's third after 52 minutes, but he shot wildly over the top after Isaksson could only block Rooney's shot. |
| Isaksson then turned over a rising drive from Giggs as United threatened to take advantage of City's need to push forward. | Isaksson then turned over a rising drive from Giggs as United threatened to take advantage of City's need to push forward. |
| Uniyed had not been at their best, but Rooney was a constant threat, forcing a diving save from Isaksson with an instant left-foot shot on the run. | Uniyed had not been at their best, but Rooney was a constant threat, forcing a diving save from Isaksson with an instant left-foot shot on the run. |
| Sir Alex Ferguson made a tactical switch after 66 minutes, replacing Saha with John O'Shea, who was pushed into a protective role in front of the back four. | Sir Alex Ferguson made a tactical switch after 66 minutes, replacing Saha with John O'Shea, who was pushed into a protective role in front of the back four. |
| Isaksson was in action again two minutes later as United started to produce flashes of their trademark passing game, denying Rooney at point-blank range from Giggs' cross. | Isaksson was in action again two minutes later as United started to produce flashes of their trademark passing game, denying Rooney at point-blank range from Giggs' cross. |
| But City were refusing to give up and pulled a goal back in spectacular fashion, Trabelsi shooting high past Van der Sar with an angled drive from 18 yards. | But City were refusing to give up and pulled a goal back in spectacular fashion, Trabelsi shooting high past Van der Sar with an angled drive from 18 yards. |
| Richards was injured in the build up and was stretchered away, to be replaced by Damarcus Beasley. | Richards was injured in the build up and was stretchered away, to be replaced by Damarcus Beasley. |
| City's hopes of a comeback were snuffed out six minutes from time when Dunne missed Rooney's cross and Ronaldo turned home. | City's hopes of a comeback were snuffed out six minutes from time when Dunne missed Rooney's cross and Ronaldo turned home. |
| And to round off City's misery striker Corradi, who had already been booked, was sent off by referee Graham Poll after a ridiculous and unnecessary dive. | And to round off City's misery striker Corradi, who had already been booked, was sent off by referee Graham Poll after a ridiculous and unnecessary dive. |
| Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson: "We have had a tough spell. I am sure people thought we might drop something this week. | |
| "But, credit to the players, they've done well even though fatigue was beginning to show a bit at the end. | |
| "We should have put the game to bed in the second half but unfortunately wedidn't take our chances and we could have suffered because of it." |