Man Utd 3 Man City 1

Goal Videos to follow later. A good derby win, hard fought and won by the better side. We had a bit of luck to help us with the goals but nothing we didn't deserve. Trabelsi's goal left VDS shell-shocked as can be seen from the 15 mins or so after that goal. Again, 4-4-2 worked; 4-1-4-1 did not.

We're now nine points clear from Chelsea although they have 2 games in hand.
Worst Case Scenario: We're 3 points clear.
Best Case Scenario: We're 9 points clear.
Buddha's Middle Path Scenario: We're 6 points clear.



Match Report:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Great result, 9 points clear of Chelsea, will be very intresting to see how chelsea cope being 9 points behind United in the table, lets hope for an arsenal win tommorow

We were a bit lax at times but still too strong for a poor City side who tried their hardest in a typical Derby game. Full marks to Stuart Pearce for his post match comments about the red carded diving of the city player and how "he will be having a word with him during the week". Pearce called the antics of Corradi when he dived as "bullshit" on BBC Match of The Day and fully supported the referee's decision to red card the player.