8 January 2012: City 2-3 United (FA Cup Third Round)
The appeal of this one wasn’t that of the Manchester derby, but rather, by Paul Scholes’ name on the team sheet. However, the action didn’t end there. Our number 10 may not have been able to do the honours from 12 yards, but he didn’t waste the opportunity when the ball fell to his feet seconds later, as The Red Devils looked guaranteed a pass to the next round, during the winter break, with their blue rivals snowed under by Rooney’s double and Welbeck’s (yes, the forgotten man!) sharp reactions to a nearby deflection. This admirable awareness was something a now 37-year-old Scholes lacked, as his epitome of the rest of his teammates’ negligence of the game – not surprising in the belief that City were dead and buried – offered their rivals a lifeline, after Aleksandar Kolarov’s free-looked to act only as a consolation, with twenty-five minutes remaining on the clock. We know Fergie’s men held on, but Vincent Kompany’s dismissal lent more than a helping hand, in this heated encounter.
30 April 2012: City 1-0 United (Premier League)
Kompany didn’t have long to wait in order to redeem himself and his side after their FA Cup misery earlier in the season, delivering the defeat to their neighbours in menacing manner, with the man in question, heading in the right direction this time. United conceding deep into the first forty-five minutes stoppage time. There was certainly no more goalmouth action for the visitors, who had set out their stall for a draw initially anyway; not as desperate for the full fruits as City. After all, with Rooney pining all alone up front, we couldn’t have expected much more. All aspects of their game were below-par and the statistic that Sir Alex Ferguson’s side failed to manage a single shot on target, is perhaps why Mancini’s men swooped for the title this particular campaign. We gifted City some momentum in this one and perhaps this is why they gained the upper hand in the end.
9 December 2012: United 2-3 City (Premier League)
We’re becoming familiar with this scoreline now! But it’s not the only reoccurring theme both sets of fans have become accustomed to in the local coming together, as this time it was the forward, Robin van Persie, who hit back with a last-minute goal. The two sides weren’t just grappling at the Etihad but in the table too, as what would have looked to City a feasible three-point gap before kick-off, was now a daunting doubled-in-size rift. Another Rooney brace and two late City strikes inspiring a comeback, followed suit of a similar fixture you may recall… Additionally, this one is often memorable by Rio Ferdinand’s cut eye, due to flying objects dispelled from the stands and Joe Hart keeping an advancing pitch invader from an evidently shaken United backline member. Once again, neither side looked deserving to leave with nothing to show for their efforts, but thankfully, United were unwilling to compromise.
8 April 2013: United 1-2 City (Premier League)
Kompany’s involvement at the other end of the pitch is somewhat active in the Manchester derby. Although this time, he had those in red on their feet as opposed to the preferred blue half of Old Trafford. A second-half own goal cancelled our own teammate James Milner’s opener. Aguero’s successful substitute resulted in a match winner worthy of any Manchester derby, fresh legs parting United’s fatigued defence effortlessly with the finish to match. The striker and the Reds’ Rio Ferdinand mirrored much of what was ensuing off the pitch, the latter’s men refusing to send the ball out of play, for an on-the-deck David Silva. We’d much rather have had the scores square as opposed to our players though.
22 September 2013: City 4-1 United (Premier League)
I wouldn’t blame you should you choose to look away now, as we’re getting to the one, in particular, that is iconic of all that was wrong with the Reds’ 2013/14 campaign, under David Moyes. I’ll keep it short and sweet. A commonplace outfit in United were unable to bounce back as the counterparts of their city have done so often. Aguero added another only minutes after the restart and Nasri added the icing to a sky blue cake in the 50th minute. The prior had already found the back of the net before the break with Yaya Toure joining him. It’s a shame Rooney’s desire to get something from this one never paid off entirely, with three minutes left to play. However, this eleventh goal declared him the highest scorer in the derby, so you could say he did personally reap some rewards.
25 March 2014: United 0-3 City (Premier League)
Edin Dzeko’s invitation to an open goal (and he didn’t need asking twice) left the net as bare as the score line on United’s part. The forward bagged one either side of the half-way mark, combining forces with Yaya Toure on the score sheet. A sacking was imminent for Moyes and little did we know (well, we expected it) he would part company with The Red Devils, less than a month on. In a press confidence subsequent to the final whistle, our former head coach claimed that the players’ confidence was not declining, leaving us as fans to question what exactly wasn’t clicking then. The squad might as well have not turned up, and despite feeling like they really hadn’t, goal difference wouldn’t have made an ounce of difference to us, as we were a club neither aiming for Europe nor entangled in a relegation scrap. Performances like that were typical viewing for a side vying desperately for that 17th league place though. Change was much needed, as United were now seen as a six-pointer for their local rivals.
2 November 2014: City 1-0 United (Premier League)
It does get slightly better for the Red Devils’ faithful with a significantly reduced deficit from last time around. Louis van Gaal tasted defeat in his first Manchester derby yet. However, I would guarantee it wasn’t quite as bitter as that, which his predecessor was victim to. Chris Smalling justified why players are advised to keep their cool in these clashes; he saw red in both respects and left his side’s back four a man light. It would have been unthinkable to keep Aguero, a man on fire, from being amongst the goals and it proved so. Defence and attack were helpless alike but perhaps now our current gaffer will be better prepared. And how the tables have turned (quite literally), as our hopes for a top-four finish looking more likely than City’s.
