Manchester City against Manchester United

Ball pinged into the City box sees Scholes crowded out by a wall of blue shirts

Break down the right from Jihai gives him the chance to pick from two in space in the middle but he delays and in the end all City get is a corner

United look lethargic and deflated as the end of the match approaches

Bosvelt plays the ball up to Fowler on the edge of the box and continues his run forward. Clever chipped return from Fowler gives Bosvelt a head at goal. Wasn't quite where he would have wanted it and the header sails over the bar

Sibierski is forced to leave the field and is replaced by Sun Jihai

Forlan gets the ball at his feet and runs at the defence for the first time. Eyes a shot from distance and it never really troubles James in the City goal

Sibierski looks to be in a lot of trouble. With pain on his face he is signalling to the bench that he needs to come off

Nice play down the left from United. Back heel from Forlan gives O'Shea space, he finds Solskjaer in the box but, just as he turns to shoot, is robbed of the ball by Distin

The game has been played in the United half since the goal. Fowler stands up well to shield the ball before putting Macken through on goal but the striker had wandered offside

Another ball over the top, out to the left, arrives at the feet of Macken. Rather than taking a touch he goes for the spectacular volley and balloons it into row Z

Diego Forlan enters the action at the expense of Giggs

Corner for City is delivered at pace and van Buyten manages to connect. He is back peddling though and the angled header goes wide

The noise level returns to that of the first half and the last 15 minutes is set up perfectly

A ball over the top should have poised no danger for Silvestre at all. An attempt to play a short pass to Brown on the edge of the box spins past him and allows Sinclair through behind the back line. With Howard coming out Sinclair plays a cute dink over the keeper's body and into the net. Against the run of play but City go 3-1 up

Goal - a third for City!

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on to replace Ronaldo

Surging run through the centre by Wright-Phillips gives Sinclair the chance to cross and the fast arriving Sibierski is not far away from making contact

City look to be sitting in the defend the lead and looking to break when they can. A dangerous game with United well on top though when City have got forward they have carried a goal threat

Giggs shows Wright-Phillips a clean pair of heels on the left and, at the second attempt, tries to play across the six yard box. A series of deflections and shots eventually sees the ball cleared upfield

Corner for City is played to the back of the box where Sibierski rises to power a header goalwards. Fortunately for United, Butt is on the line to head clear over the bar

Van Nistelrooy lays the ball out wide to Ronaldo before heading into the box. Ronaldo cleverly cuts back then dinks in a ball towards the Dutchman. It is just behind him and, falling, he fails to make contact

One of the biggest cheers of the day as Ronaldo's control lets him down and the ball runs out for a throw. Pretty much the first thing he's done wrong today

Fletcher tries an effort from just outside the D but before it gets going a resolute City back line throws bodies in front to block

An opportunity for City as Sibierski finds space to attack on the left. The diagonal ball aimed for him is cut out by a back tracking Fletcher

All eleven players in the City team were behind the ball as United mounted their latest attack

Almost from the half way line the free kick is floated into the United box where Howard comes out to connect with a powerful fist clear

Silvestre gets a talking to from the referee after a bit of afters with Sinclair who is awarded the free kick

Fowler slams the ballinto the ground after a percieved injustice over the award of a throw in. Referee takes no action

Macken receives the ball along way forward from any team mates. Does well to hold off Silvestre and turn to get a shot in. The United defender does get a block on it though and a corner is conceded

Cross into the box for City sees Sibierski in a criminal amount of space but his angled header goes wide. Something of a let off for United

Short United corner catches City sleeping and Giggs has time to send in a measured chip. James shows good hands to claim the ball in the middle of a sea of players

Manchester United are putting all the pressure on now

Good ball into the City box from Giggs almost reaches van Nistelrooy but Distin stretches to get ahead of him and clear

Scholes rides a tackle from Sinclair before spreading the ball wonderfully to the opposite flank but Ronaldo, despite several step-overs, loses possession

O'Shea tries to release Ronaldo down the left but Wright-Phillips, who looks to be getting very close to Ronaldo, is there to tackle

A disjointed start to the second half with neither team stringing passes together

Rather aimless ball forward from Bosvelt earns City a corner that is cleared after a blocked shot from Sibierski

Free kick for City all of 35 yards out tempts Tarnat to shoot. Very ambitious and it is unlikely he will be allowed to do the same should they get another kick from that range.

Sinclair looks to cause problems down the right. Gets the ball inside and, despite two misskicks, puts it over the top for Fowler but Howard is alert to the danger

Fowler rather bundles his way forward into the United half before feeding Macken out on the left. His cross is aimed for Sinclair but easily cut out by O'Shea

United get us underway for the second half

Changes for City at the break sees Paul Bosvelt and Trevor Sinclair on for Macmanaman and Reyna

Blistering opening to the game that never actually settled down at any point. City in dreamland after going two up but on the balance of play and the chances that United created, pulling one back was the very least they deserved. Definitely more goals in this one.

Final whistle goes to bring an end to a cracking first half

O'Shea finds himself well forward and challenging for a flighted cross. Gets there and directs the ball towards goal but the linesman had already flagged

Ronaldo finds himself in acres of space on the left, not for the first time, and fires a cross cum shot across the six yard box. Scholes and van Nistelrooy are both there but neither attacks the ball where any sort of touch would have led to a goal

Two minutes of added time

Quick free kick from Fletcher in his own half sees Giggs one against one with van Buyten. Elects not to go round him but just move the ball wide for a shot that is easily blocked

In his own box this time Distin wins another header but his clearance only reaches Giggs. On the volley Giggs swings his left foot and the controlled effort goes just wide of James' left hand post

Decent ball swung in and it is Distin who rises highest to win the header. He gets power on it but it goes a long way over

Wright-Phillips stands up to O'Shea and tries to beat him out by the right touchline. The defender blocks his path, however, and a free kick is given to City level with the six yard box

United very much in the driving seat of this game now, despite the scoreline

Giggs finds Ronaldo in space on the left of the 18 yard box. Has time to line up his effort and a fantastic, curling shot, with James well beaten, comes back off the crossbar. Quality shot and only inches off target

Impetus now with United who are playing the game around the City box

Ball over the top from United sees James scurrying from his goal line but van Nistlerooy gets there first, wide on the right. Tries to put a ball into the middle but James is strong enough to get in a block

Ronaldo caused havoc down the right running with the ball. Feeds Giggs inside the box and he cuts back and turns, looking for a shooting chance. Lays the ball back in the end and Scholes, timing his run into the box better than his tackles, fires in an unstoppable shot. 2-1. Game on!

Another goal! Scholes pops up in the box and silences the home fans.

The ball was never properly cleared and at the third attempt a ball in from the right sees confusion in the penalty area before Macken wraps his foot around the ball on the spin and beats Howard to his right through the legs of Silvestre. City 2 United 0 and the home fans are going wild

Macken puts City two up. Goal!

City free kick from near the left corner of the 18 yard box sees Sibierski shoot straight into the wall

Long ball forward is flicked on by Macken for Fowler to chase. The striker though is always second favourite as Silvestre calmly wrestles the ball from him and away to safety

Macken receives the ball from a throw out by the right corner flag. Attempts to cut it back but only manages to put it out of play

Sibierski clatters Butt as he clears from his own half. It was late but not especially bad and the referee just awards a free kick

The two players collided and James needs some treatment. Quickly back on his feet though and play continues

Fletcher dinks a clever little ball over the top of the City back line adn sets up a race for the ball between James and van Nistlerooy. The England keeper is brave and quick off his line to take the ball off the Dutch striker's toes

On the follow up Neville comes from deep and tries his luck from 25 yards. A lot of power but little direction and the effort goes well wide

Ronaldo ball towards the back post is cut back well by Fletcher to van Nistlerooy with his back to goal. With the ball bouncing he tries an overhead kick but Distin blocks. Muted appeals for handball but the referee rightly waves them away

City free kick from deep on the right is delivered into a crowded box and well cleared by Silvestre

A swirling wind blowing around the stadium is making high balls a little bit unpredictable

Butt fancies a pop from the edge of the box but before he can properly shape for it a wall of blue shirts block his effort

Great ball swung over from the right by Fletcher appears to be put out by Dunne but after thinking about it the referee awards a goal kick

An inventive one-two between Giggs and O'Shea almost releases the Irishman in the City box but his control is not the best

Giggs carries the ball forward in midfield and waits for the run of Ronaldo. He twists and turns along the city back line but in the end the ball through is not good enough

City's turn to string a few passes together but a promising move breaks down with the intervention of Brown

Van Nistlerooy looks to have got into a good position but his run is halted by the linesman's flag

The game shows little sign of slowing down

Scholes shows up his lack of timing in the tackle again and arrives late on McManaman. Very little contact and the City player makes a meal of it and Scholes sees yellow

The referee decides to take both players' names and the first two bookings of the game are handed out. I'm guessing they won't be the last

Butt and Distin get caught up with each other and lock horns in a very manly way

Ronaldo from the left swings in a ball that James has to watch all the way before picking it out from under the crossbar

Van Nistlerooy shows strength to hold the ball up in midfield before trying to pick out Ronaldo at the far post. Wright-Phillips gets an important head on the ball to prevent it finding its target

Ronaldo beats the offside trap down the left wing and pulls a good ball back to van Nistlerooy in the box. His lay off finds Giggs but he slices the shot well wide in the end

United get some possession and play it calmly around the back until Reyna is pulled up for a foul on Scholes

The volume has been pumped up and the tackles are biting. A real derby match is developing

Frenetic opening to the matchas Macken is denied in the United box before the ball is shifted to the other end that gives Giggs a shooting opportunity from the edge of the box but it is on his wrong foot and the shot is a weak one

Up at the other end Scholes fires in a good effort which James can only parry. Cleared only as far as Ronaldo who goes for the near post. Van Nistlerooy steps out of the way to let the ball in but it hits the post and flys out to safety from a City point of view

Throw in from the right is flicked on by Sibieski, Fowler gets in front of Neville and from 5 yards bundles the ball past Howard. The start that the home fans dreamed of

Goal for City through Fowler!

Scholes flys in late in achallenge but the early tempo of the game dictates that City get play under way quickly

Neville plays it long aimed at van Nistelrooy but he is well marshalled and City have a goal kick

City get us underway at a noisy Eastlands Stadium

Alex Ferguson has promised a Manchester United backlash but their city rivals would like nothing more than to add to United's woes. A Manchester derby that promises much

All the action from the first derby to be staged at the City of Manchester Stadium. Kicking off at 2pm GMT

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on to replace Ronaldo

Surging run through the centre by Wright-Phillips gives Sinclair the chance to cross and the fast arriving Sibierski is not far away from making contact

City look to be sitting in the defend the lead and looking to break when they can. A dangerous game with United well on top though when City have got forward they have carried a goal threat

Giggs shows Wright-Phillips a clean pair of heels on the left and, at the second attempt, tries to play across the six yard box. A series of deflections and shots eventually sees the ball cleared upfield

Corner for City is played to the back of the box where Sibierski rises to power a header goalwards. Fortunately for United, Butt is on the line to head clear over the bar

Van Nistelrooy lays the ball out wide to Ronaldo before heading into the box. Ronaldo cleverly cuts back then dinks in a ball towards the Dutchman. It is just behind him and, falling, he fails to make contact

One of the biggest cheers of the day as Ronaldo's control lets him down and the ball runs out for a throw. Pretty much the first thing he's done wrong today

Fletcher tries an effort from just outside the D but before it gets going a resolute City back line throws bodies in front to block

An opportunity for City as Sibierski finds space to attack on the left. The diagonal ball aimed for him is cut out by a back tracking Fletcher

All eleven players in the City team were behind the ball as United mounted their latest attack

Almost from the half way line the free kick is floated into the United box where Howard comes out to connect with a powerful fist clear

Silvestre gets a talking to from the referee after a bit of afters with Sinclair who is awarded the free kick

Fowler slams the ballinto the ground after a percieved injustice over the award of a throw in. Referee takes no action

Macken receives the ball along way forward from any team mates. Does well to hold off Silvestre and turn to get a shot in. The United defender does get a block on it though and a corner is conceded

Cross into the box for City sees Sibierski in a criminal amount of space but his angled header goes wide. Something of a let off for United

Short United corner catches City sleeping and Giggs has time to send in a measured chip. James shows good hands to claim the ball in the middle of a sea of players

Manchester United are putting all the pressure on now

Good ball into the City box from Giggs almost reaches van Nistelrooy but Distin stretches to get ahead of him and clear

Scholes rides a tackle from Sinclair before spreading the ball wonderfully to the opposite flank but Ronaldo, despite several step-overs, loses possession

O'Shea tries to release Ronaldo down the left but Wright-Phillips, who looks to be getting very close to Ronaldo, is there to tackle

A disjointed start to the second half with neither team stringing passes together

Rather aimless ball forward from Bosvelt earns City a corner that is cleared after a blocked shot from Sibierski

Free kick for City all of 35 yards out tempts Tarnat to shoot. Very ambitious and it is unlikely he will be allowed to do the same should they get another kick from that range.

Sinclair looks to cause problems down the right. Gets the ball inside and, despite two misskicks, puts it over the top for Fowler but Howard is alert to the danger

Fowler rather bundles his way forward into the United half before feeding Macken out on the left. His cross is aimed for Sinclair but easily cut out by O'Shea

United get us underway for the second half

Changes for City at the break sees Paul Bosvelt and Trevor Sinclair on for Macmanaman and Reyna

Blistering opening to the game that never actually settled down at any point. City in dreamland after going two up but on the balance of play and the chances that United created, pulling one back was the very least they deserved. Definitely more goals in this one.

Final whistle goes to bring an end to a cracking first half

O'Shea finds himself well forward and challenging for a flighted cross. Gets there and directs the ball towards goal but the linesman had already flagged

Ronaldo finds himself in acres of space on the left, not for the first time, and fires a cross cum shot across the six yard box. Scholes and van Nistelrooy are both there but neither attacks the ball where any sort of touch would have led to a goal

Two minutes of added time

Quick free kick from Fletcher in his own half sees Giggs one against one with van Buyten. Elects not to go round him but just move the ball wide for a shot that is easily blocked

In his own box this time Distin wins another header but his clearance only reaches Giggs. On the volley Giggs swings his left foot and the controlled effort goes just wide of James' left hand post

Decent ball swung in and it is Distin who rises highest to win the header. He gets power on it but it goes a long way over

Wright-Phillips stands up to O'Shea and tries to beat him out by the right touchline. The defender blocks his path, however, and a free kick is given to City level with the six yard box

United very much in the driving seat of this game now, despite the scoreline

Giggs finds Ronaldo in space on the left of the 18 yard box. Has time to line up his effort and a fantastic, curling shot, with James well beaten, comes back off the crossbar. Quality shot and only inches off target

Impetus now with United who are playing the game around the City box

Ball over the top from United sees James scurrying from his goal line but van Nistlerooy gets there first, wide on the right. Tries to put a ball into the middle but James is strong enough to get in a block

Ronaldo caused havoc down the right running with the ball. Feeds Giggs inside the box and he cuts back and turns, looking for a shooting chance. Lays the ball back in the end and Scholes, timing his run into the box better than his tackles, fires in an unstoppable shot. 2-1. Game on!

Another goal! Scholes pops up in the box and silences the home fans.

The ball was never properly cleared and at the third attempt a ball in from the right sees confusion in the penalty area before Macken wraps his foot around the ball on the spin and beats Howard to his right through the legs of Silvestre. City 2 United 0 and the home fans are going wild

Macken puts City two up. Goal!

City free kick from near the left corner of the 18 yard box sees Sibierski shoot straight into the wall

Long ball forward is flicked on by Macken for Fowler to chase. The striker though is always second favourite as Silvestre calmly wrestles the ball from him and away to safety

Macken receives the ball from a throw out by the right corner flag. Attempts to cut it back but only manages to put it out of play

Sibierski clatters Butt as he clears from his own half. It was late but not especially bad and the referee just awards a free kick

The two players collided and James needs some treatment. Quickly back on his feet though and play continues

Fletcher dinks a clever little ball over the top of the City back line adn sets up a race for the ball between James and van Nistlerooy. The England keeper is brave and quick off his line to take the ball off the Dutch striker's toes

On the follow up Neville comes from deep and tries his luck from 25 yards. A lot of power but little direction and the effort goes well wide

Ronaldo ball towards the back post is cut back well by Fletcher to van Nistlerooy with his back to goal. With the ball bouncing he tries an overhead kick but Distin blocks. Muted appeals for handball but the referee rightly waves them away

City free kick from deep on the right is delivered into a crowded box and well cleared by Silvestre

A swirling wind blowing around the stadium is making high balls a little bit unpredictable

Butt fancies a pop from the edge of the box but before he can properly shape for it a wall of blue shirts block his effort

Great ball swung over from the right by Fletcher appears to be put out by Dunne but after thinking about it the referee awards a goal kick

An inventive one-two between Giggs and O'Shea almost releases the Irishman in the City box but his control is not the best

Giggs carries the ball forward in midfield and waits for the run of Ronaldo. He twists and turns along the city back line but in the end the ball through is not good enough

City's turn to string a few passes together but a promising move breaks down with the intervention of Brown

Van Nistlerooy looks to have got into a good position but his run is halted by the linesman's flag

The game shows little sign of slowing down

Scholes shows up his lack of timing in the tackle again and arrives late on McManaman. Very little contact and the City player makes a meal of it and Scholes sees yellow

The referee decides to take both players' names and the first two bookings of the game are handed out. I'm guessing they won't be the last

Butt and Distin get caught up with each other and lock horns in a very manly way

Ronaldo from the left swings in a ball that James has to watch all the way before picking it out from under the crossbar

Van Nistlerooy shows strength to hold the ball up in midfield before trying to pick out Ronaldo at the far post. Wright-Phillips gets an important head on the ball to prevent it finding its target

Ronaldo beats the offside trap down the left wing and pulls a good ball back to van Nistlerooy in the box. His lay off finds Giggs but he slices the shot well wide in the end

United get some possession and play it calmly around the back until Reyna is pulled up for a foul on Scholes

The volume has been pumped up and the tackles are biting. A real derby match is developing

Frenetic opening to the matchas Macken is denied in the United box before the ball is shifted to the other end that gives Giggs a shooting opportunity from the edge of the box but it is on his wrong foot and the shot is a weak one

Up at the other end Scholes fires in a good effort which James can only parry. Cleared only as far as Ronaldo who goes for the near post. Van Nistlerooy steps out of the way to let the ball in but it hits the post and flys out to safety from a City point of view

Throw in from the right is flicked on by Sibieski, Fowler gets in front of Neville and from 5 yards bundles the ball past Howard. The start that the home fans dreamed of

Goal for City through Fowler!

Scholes flys in late in achallenge but the early tempo of the game dictates that City get play under way quickly

Neville plays it long aimed at van Nistelrooy but he is well marshalled and City have a goal kick

City get us underway at a noisy Eastlands Stadium

Alex Ferguson has promised a Manchester United backlash but their city rivals would like nothing more than to add to United's woes. A Manchester derby that promises much

All the action from the first derby to be staged at the City of Manchester Stadium. Kicking off at 2pm GMT