10th February 2008

February 10th 2008 will be a date that will be remembered in City history for a long time to come. After being outclassed by Arsenal the week before and the ‘Balloon-gate’ incident that saw City crash out of the FA Cup it was no surprise to hear a few City fans thinking that the fantastic start we had at the beginning of the season would now slide into another middle of the table finish.
The build up to the Manchester derby was greater than normal as it would also coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Munich air crash in which some of the famous ‘Busby Babes’ had their lives, and talent cut short. Mainstream media was awash with pre judging and finger pointing, claiming that ’City’ fans would ruin the tributes scheduled.
Fast forward to the day and City roll out in special one off sky blue shirts missing all sponsors names, likewise for Utd (though theirs were red). City were off to a great start when all the fans (including some 3000 City fans) kept quiet and respected the silence without fault. From there on I believe some anti City (or maybe more correct to call them Pro Utd!) knew it wouldn’t be their day. City started by absorbing all the pressure Utd put on them. This was something they failed t do against Arsenal and it cost us dear that day. Derby day though was different and it was to get better as Ireland was fed through onto goal. Van Der Sar saved and even got to Vassells shot as he latched onto the rebound, however he was helpless to do anything about Vassell getting onto the second rebound, with Utd defenders seemingly in slow motion City fans saw the net bulge and we were 1-0 up. Later that half it would get better as new signing Benjani scored with one of his dreadlocks. City were 2-0 up and deep in enemy territory! United pulled one back deep into stoppage time at the end of the game but in reality it didn’t sour the victory at all for the City faithful.
The defeat of Utd was their first on home soil this season, it was a defeat on ‘their’ day. It was the first time we had beaten them at Old Trafford since 1974 and with the victory at Eastlands it was also the first time City had done the double since 1970! Also as a bonus, us City fans could possibly look back on this day as the day United dropped out of the title race.