f.a. premiership, Matchday 14
City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester, 13.30pm GMT, Sunday 30th November 2008.
Attendance: 47,320

Article by Mark Graham, Editor, Record Keeper & Official Reporter @ MUFCINFO.COM

A eventful Manchester derby swung United's way on Sunday after Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off for two bookable offences & Wayne Rooney scored before half time capping off the visitors dominance at the same time making it 100 club career goals.

SAF gave the nod to Rafael Da Silva at right full back & Carrick & Fletcher in the middle with Dimitar Berbatov returning to the side after injury.

United settling immediately never gave City a second thought going forward as United kept possession & used the ball expertly especially Michael Carrick, the Geordie midfielder a product of the famous Wallsend Boys Club totally ran the midfield show demonstrating his marvelous distribution.

With pressure coming from all areas of United attack, the Reds two fullbacks pinned back Robinho & co almost making them a non entity such was the possession United gained over their neighbors.

The Reds created a mix of chances from Rooney, Ronaldo & a glancing header from Berbatov but City's keeper Joe Hart was equal to all with saves, a world class save with the latter.

City briefly replied when in-form midfielder Stephen Ireland hit a post after Micah Richards had missed his team mates shot & Benjani shortly after wasted a shot when the Ex Pompey striker could have done much better.

Robinho finally got into the game from City & was fortunate not to make EVDS panic in the United goal after Ex Bin-dipper Didi Hamann's delivered a ball into the danger area, the Brazilian at full stretch was inches from making contact.

It took the Reds until three minutes before half time to finally gain the telling statistic after Ji Sung Park outmuscled Dunne in the box, the Korean nodded the ball toward Carrick, and a shot later & spill from Hart Rooney showed predatory instincts that led SAF to compare Rooney with Andrew Cole, the United striker made it 100 league goals with a simple close range tap in & the Reds were deservedly leading.

At half time City boss Mark Hughes had to make forced changes to try to involve & stamp his team authority on the game as he moved Vincent Kompany to midfield to try to break up Carrick & Fletcher.

United on the counter were catching City with regular occurrence as Ji-Sung Park was twice brilliantly denied by by Wright-Phillips and Dunne.

City with Kompany in midfield causing a presence City struck the side netting with Benjani & Garrido hit a 25-yard free-kick inches wide.

With United more than comfortable an inexplicable action from Ronaldo cause the Portuguese star a Yellow Card as he lifted his hands toward his face & hand balled in the City penalty area, a foul which was giving United absolutely no benefit, but Referee Howard Webb booked Ronaldo & TV footage then had explained that Ronaldo was inconsolable as he said he had heard a "beep"

A lesson learned then Ronaldo, think before you decided to cause a foul when you had already been booked.

In hindsight United's flyer should have been sent off earlier after sarcastically applauding Webb's action of him receiving his 1st yellow.

United then changed their tactics & had to defend in number as City looked to take advantage of their gift, but United held firm defending like a team that looks as tough to score against as their record suggests of 5 consecutive clean sheets.

With City searching to salvage anything Richard Dunne almost gave his side an undeserved equalizer as a volley was cleared off the line by MUFCINFO.COM's Swashbuckling MOTM Patrice Evra.

The game then almost ended with a 50 yard effort from Wayne Rooney as with City's keeper Joe Hart adding to his side attack, United countered 7& when Ryan Giggs gave the ball to Rooney, the England Striker smashed & effort goal bound ala David Beckham v Wimbledon & at full pace Hart just and so managed to turn the ambitious effort around the post with the back up factor of Shaun Wright Phillips about to head clear

United then ran out the clock taking a valuable three points & with the added hilarity of good old Arsenal dispatching Chelsea, United narrowed the gap at the top on one of the leaders of the Premiership Table.


What's your opinion on the Match?.....HAVE YOU'RE SAY BELOW

 MUFCINFO's MAN OF THE MATCH