Man City vs Man United - Five of the Best
City and United have played out some terrific games that will live long in the memory of any die-hard fan... here's five of the best.
A Manchester City vs Manchester United derby will settle the Premier League title (or not as the case may be). The whole of the Premier League will be watching the biggest league match of the season as it beams out on the Sky Sports cameras tonight. But it has not always been the most exciting game to watch. The gulf between the two sides has often been so great that the derby has held very little significance at times. It has, at times, amounted to just another game. However, this has not always been the case. City and United have played out some terrific games that will live long in the memory of any die-hard fan. Here are five of the best... Manchester United 0-1 Manchester City, April 1974 The Back Heel
Manchester United travelled to Maine Road needing a win to avoid relegation to the Second Division. Former Manchester United legend, now playing for City, instinctively flicked out his heel in the closing moments of the match, only to turn around and witness the ball trickle into the back of Uniteds net. For a player to score the winner in a Manchester derby, his reaction will always be remembered. It was as if Law could not believe he had relegated the club that loved him so well. He was substituted immediately and soon fans invaded the pitch. The game was abandoned, the result stood and United were down. Manchester United 4-3 Manchester City, September 2009 Fergie Time 
An astonishing game of football, whether you supported one of these teams or not. The game had some tremendous goals, and a City debut for the shy and vulnerable Carlos Tevez against his former employers. But the game will always be remembered for Fergie Time, six minutes of stoppage time where Mark Hughes spent most of it waving his arms for the referee to blow his whistle. Ryan Giggs found Michael Owen in acres of space on the edge of Citys box, and Michael Owen slotted the ball home in his finest (and potentially only) moment of United glory. Owen wheeled away in celebration, while Hughes stood stern-faced and very, very angry. Manchester United 2-1 Manchester City, February 2011 That Overhead
Manchester City were clutching on to their slim title challenge, and a victory at Old Trafford would have really put the cat amongst the pigeons. The game was tight, scrappy, and really not that memorable. That was until Nani whipped a ball in to Wayne Rooney, who steered the ball goal-wards in the most audacious way possible. Game over. Manchester City 1-0 Manchester United, April 2011 FA Cup Glory for City
City were banging on the door of success for a while, but had yet to win any trophies or prove to the doubters that they were more than just a flash in the pan. So where better to prove your credentials than against your rivals and in front of a worldwide audience? United were well outclassed by City. Yaya Toure justified his reported £250k a week contract by slotting the ball between Van der Saars legs and putting City into the FA Cup Final, at the expense of their red neighbours. Manchester United 1-6 Manchester City, October 2011 Why Always Me?
It is not just one of the finest derby games of all time, but one of the finest Premier League games of all time. United had been struggling since their exceptional first few games, but no one could have predicted with just how much ease that City, and most notably Mario Balloteli, cut through United. Balloteli was punished by Mancini for setting off fireworks in his house the day before the game, but his brace against a hapless United side has cemented himself, not just in Manchester City history, but in Premier League folklore.