Manchester City 0 Manchester United 1 April 17th 2010
Barclays Premier League att 47,019
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Well the battle for 4th and the top of the Premiership continues with City's last gasp defeat by United and Spurs win over Chelsea likely to keep us on tender hooks until late in the season. There were less than 30 seconds to go when Scholes headed United into a 1-0 win. City failed to find the form that has seen them score 14 in three games and with so many players off the boil we were fortunate not to be behind at the interval as both Rooney and Giggs missed good chances while the only City effort was a free kick by Tevez that was saved by Van der Sar. It was not the most exciting of games with neither keeper having much to do. There was a lack of fluency and accuracy about the City passing and the team failed to rise to the occasion. Johnson seemed to lack confidence and was maybe overawed by the situation. Whilst the defence did quite well for most of the game it was the forwards who failed to deliver the goods on this occasion. Sometimes there was a slow reaction to game situations so a disappointing result as neither side really deserved three points
It was strange to see the Google camera making its way around the ground.. Was this a first I wonder at a football ground? I doubt it.
City made just one change. There was a welcome return for Bridge and the in form Onuoha kept his place at right back.
Tevez tries to block a clearance by the keeper
An early run by Rooney is closely watched by Barry and Toure
City clear United early pressure
A shot from Fletcher just goes wide as Given dives to cover the flight of the ball
Roberto Mancini is first to come off his seat to try and push his team to greater efforts
After 7 minutes Tevez was fouled by Gibson
and despite the protestations by United players there was the first chance for City
Tevez curled the free kick towards the top corner but alas there was Van der Sar to save. Probably not enough power in the shot
Golfer Lee Westwood and bodyguard sat behind Gary Cook and England manager Capello
captain Toure clears from Rooney
A couple of errors by Vincent Kompany let in Rooney but fortunately he failed to take advantage and the ball went for a corner
United manage to clear a City corner
A foul by Barry on Gibson needed a union meeting....
.... and eventually peace was restored and goodness me is that a smile from Craig Bellamy and friendly pat by Rooney!
In the end the free kick taken by Giggs was saved by Given
A good cross from Bellamy is very dangerous but no City players were there to make use of it
Carlos Tevez was being closely marked by the United defence
Gibson clears from Adebayor
An injury to Adebayor gave the City players to get more instructions from the manager.......
.... and for the poor referee to have a quick swig!
On 40 minutes Rooney missed a good chance shooting wide when well placed
Ryan Giggs had a very good chance from close range just before half time but his shot went straight to Given
During the interval the youngest kids from the Academy got a good welcome from the crowd as they went round the pitch
Van der Sar manages to beat Tevez to the ball
Craig Bellamy brings down Neville on the edge of the area
Runs and crosses by Adebayor and Bellamy fail to earn any dividend for City
Valencia and Bridge jump for the ball
A Giggs effort is blocked
United defend a City corner - note Neville holding Onuoha's shirt
Nani wastes a good chance
After 73 minutes Barry broke through......
.....and it looked like he was tripped by Garry Neville but the referee waved away any City protests and United escaped
Onuoha clears under pressure
Barry tries to capture Giggs' left leg
SWP on for Adebayor is brought down
The free kick taken by Tevez is just missed by Viera and Onuoha and the ball goes for a corner
Given watches a shot go just past the post
Van der Sar failed to clear the ball out of danger and back it came.......
.. and with the ball bouncing around like a pinball machine Vidic managed to keep the ball from going into the United goal with Van der Sar unable to help
The City defence under pressure as full time approaches
Given tries to clear a United corner
With less than a minute to go of the three minutes extra time a long pass from Bellamy to SWP was intercepted by Evra and his cross was met by Scholes who headed down past Given to give United the lead with only a few seconds left to play. Disaster!
Team
Given 6: Onuoha 7, Toure 7, Kompany 7, Bridge 7: Johnson 6 ( Viera 6) , De Jong 7.5 ( Ireland 6) , Barry 7, Bellamy 6.5, Tevez 7, Adebayor 6.5 ( Wright-Phillips 6)
