It’s almost derby day and Manchester City host United as the Premier League returns after a less than exciting, dull as dishwater, don’t get your hopes up of doing anything at the World Cup, international break. Yes, away from the hype of England’s amazing stars, who just about to get past Andorra, before winning 5-0 against Serbia (okay, maybe not so boring on that one), real football is back and what
better way to announce its return than a meaty derby at the Etihad Stadium.
The Blues will be fired up after losing their last two matches and may possibly field one of the best goalkeepers in the world in Gianluigi Donnarumma. United also signed a keeper in the form of Belgian star Senne Lammens and it will be interesting if both one, or neither start Sunday’s derby.
Goalkeepers have been quite a prominent feature in this fixture over the years, with both sides having brilliant and also calamitous men between the sticks. However, they have given us some entertaining moments on both sides of the city.
This fixture is still one of the highlights of the season, giving bragging rights to the victors and the ability to claim on social media, for a few months at least, that Manchester is Blue…or red if that lot take it…again.
We start our build-up to Sunday’s match by looking at five classic, entertaining matches that have been held at City’s home over the years. and I’m sure you can guess a couple that will feature. Obviously, there will be no victories listed for United because I’m really petty like that, but they do get some credit for providing entertainment for the paying supporter.
City 3-3 United – 1971
City and United were enjoying a lot of success in the late 60s and early 70s, and both teams had an abundance of stars that graced their individual line-ups. The Blues boasted Joe Corrigan in goal, Mike Doyle, well-known for hating United in his playing days, and the trio of Bell, Lee and Summerbee to attack the Reds. United had Sammy McIlroy, Bobby Charlton, future Blue Brian Kidd and their golden boy, George Best amongst their ranks.
United were top of the league with City three points behind in third place, with Derby County getting in the middle of them. A win for City would put them just one point behind their rivals, but it wasn’t meant to be as the spoils were shared on a murky November day at Maine Road.
City were on top early on, but the main talking point initially was a challenge by Lee on Best which brought a booking for the City man. While Best was being treated, Lee let the United players, and the Maine Road crowd, know what he thought and simulated a couple of dives, imitating Best, much to the delight of the City fans.
Best had some lengthy treatment but the injury magically disappeared as he played a role in the first goal. It was McIlroy that started and finished the move. O’Neill’s cross was laid off by Best and McIlroy slotted past Corrigan to give United the lead.
It was 2-0 early in the second half, when Best was released down the left and his cross found Kidd completely unmarked, and the future assistant coach made no mistake from the edge of the six yard box. Bell thought he’d pulled a goal back but was flagged offside – VAR wasn’t even thought of in those days.
City continued to press and Lee won a penalty, which he converted himself to make it 2-1. Just 13 minutes of the second half yielded two goals, and there was more to come. Bell rounded Alex Stepney after a wonderful ball from Lee to make it 2-2.
Both teams attacked and each had chances to score, but a deflected shot put United back in front, but City were not to be denied a point. Summerbee was denied by Stepney, but from the resulting corner, United failed to clear and Buzzer fired home to make it 3-3.
City 5-1 – 1989
It was rich against poor when City welcomed United to Maine Road in 1989. The Blues had just been promoted from the second division and had spent just over £1.5m improving their squad. United manager Alex Ferguson had been given around £8m to spend and £2.3m of that went on Gary Pallister from Middlesbrough alone. It would soon be a day to forget.
The match kicked off but some crowd trouble, as United fans got hold of tickets for the North Stand and had to be removed, with the players sent back to the changing rooms. When they emerged, it was City who quickly took control.
Pallister showed his worth by failing to cut out David White’s cross and David Oldfield hammered home. A minute later, it was 2-0. United failed to clear their lines, Trevor Morley nipped in and, although his shot was saved by Jim Leighton, Paul lake followed up, saw his shot saved and Morley responded and poked home with United unable to even see where the ball was.
United pressed to get back into the game but when Steve Redmond broke up a United move, the Blues again went on the attack and made it 3-0 in style. Redmond played in Oldfield down the right and his cross was met with the diving head of new boy Ian Bishop, who made himself an instant hero.
Mark Hughes pulled a goal back with a lucky bicycle kick, but any hopes of a United comeback were ended by Oldfield and defender Andy Hinchcliffe. First, Lake found himself free, his shot was saved by Leighton, but the City man picked up the loose and passed for Oldfield to easily finish.
Bishop’s long ball over the United defence caught the Reds out and White’s first-time cross was met superbly by the head of Hinchcliffe, who thumped it past Leighton for 5-1. It was a glorious day for all Blues fans and signalled a season of struggle for United’s expensively assembled side.
City 3-3 United – 1990
Another 3-3 draw at Maine Road the following season saw Blues fans disappointed, as they were on the verge of another win against United.
The Blues raced into a 2-0 lead, with David White scoring both. The first came from some awful defending by United, allowing Niall Quinn to scuff a pass to White, and the City man’s shot found the back of the goal. White made it 2-0 with a brilliant side-foot finish after being put through by a great flick by Adrian Heath.
City were cruising and the United fans were getting ready to take the early train back to Euston. But Mark Hughes again gave United fans hope with a headed goal just before half-time and that set up the second half nicely.
White almost got Derby Day hat-trick but saw his header cannon off the crossbar. However, with 12 minutes remaining, City scored the goal, which looked like it would secure the points. Colin Hendry, playing in midfield for some reason, showed a bit of skill to get away from his marker and charged forward. The Scot played a one-two with Quinn, then finished past Sealey to make it 3-1.
Job done? Nope.
Two minutes later, Ian Brightwell made an immediate impact as a substitute, losing the ball to Brian McClair and the United man pulled a goal back. Three minutes later, McClair levelled the score from a United corner and City, on top for most of the game, had to settle for a point.
City 4-1 United – 2004
In 2004, City had a rag-tag band of players, desperate to make an impact in the Premier League. After the trauma of the late 90s and the early part of the new century, City were doing just enough to survive. When United arrived at the City of Manchester Stadium for the first time in March 2004, the Reds were fully expected to take the points. What they didn’t expect was a thrashing.
The Blues went in front as early as the third minute as Robbie Fowler took great delight in scoring against United, poking home from close range after United failed to clear a long throw from Richard Dunne.
United hit the post from Ronaldo but in the 32nd minute, Jon Macken doubled City’s advantage from 14 yards out. The Blues were flying and the last thing they wanted to do was to allow United to score and open the door for a comeback.
So, it was no surprise when United scored, opening the door for a comeback. Ryan Giggs set up Paul Scholes who rifled home three minutes later.
But there was to be no equaliser that led to a last-minute winner this time. With 27 minutes remaining, Trevor Sinclair took advantage of hesitation in the United defence and he finished over the keeper to put the City fans at ease. But then came the goal of the match from Shaun Wright-Phillips to comound United’s day.
There seemed to be little danger when SWP coasted into the penalty area. It was a difficult angle and there was no way SWP would score from there. Well, there was, as he thundered the ball home to put the blue icing on the City cake.
City 6-3 United
Once again, City put six past the Reds in October 2022, 11 years after putting six past them at Old Trafford. The Blues had waited since 1971 for a player to score a derby day hattrick and, just like a bus, you wait ages for one, then two come along at once as Erling Haaland and Phil Foden ripped United a new one.
The Blues were expected to beat their old rivals, but no one expected City to destroy the Reds in the manner they did. By half-time, City were 4-0 up and United fans were heading to Piccadilly Train Station.
Phil Foden fired City in front after just eight minutes, then Haaland got his first of the match, scoring from an inswinging corner that was judged to have crossed the line. Three minutes later, Haaland converted de Bruyne’s perfect cross to make it 3-0.
Haaland turned provider a minute before half-time, taking a ball from de Bruyne and flashing a cross through the penalty area to the far post where Foden steamed in to finish. City were rampant and United simply had no answer.
However, as usual, the Blues let them back in the game, with Antony pulling a goal back in the 56th minute, before Haaland bagged another treble. Sergio Gomez (remember him) crossed into the box and Haaland had the simplest of tasks to fire past the hapless United keeper and make it 5-1.
Nine minutes later, Foden completed his hattrick and again, Haaland turned provider. The Norwegian collected a pass from Jack Grealish, then found Foden completely unmarked, and the Stockport Iniesta controlled the ball and fire home to make it 6-1.
United scored another couple that they really shouldn’t have been allowed to score, but it didn’t make much difference as City ran out convincing winners.
