Manchester United vs. Manchester City

Before the game, there was a lot of media bashing with comments from Sir Alex Ferguson and Mark Hughes. One of the most eagerly awaited Manchester derbies had become one of the most dramatic.

United opened with serious intent and took advantage of sloppy defending from City to strike the first blow in only the second minute, with Patrice Evra breaking free inside the area to set up Rooney for a close-range finish.

The on 16 minute, Foster was at the centre of a breakdown of communication with his defenders and was robbed by Tevez as he attempted to collect the ball on the edge of his area. The Argentine found Barry, who made a difficult finish look very easy as he slid home from 18 yards with United's goalkeeper hopelessly stranded.

It was a goal that took away all of United's early momentum and by the interval it was City who could justifiably feel more satisfied. Tevez, who was booked for a late challenge on Ferdinand, was guilty of a dreadful miss on the stroke of half-time.

United started the second half as they had the first , regaining the lead after 49 minutes. Once again City were guilty of poor defending as Giggs was allowed time to cross and Fletcher completed the job at the far post, rising above Barry to head home.

City needed to mount a swift response - and they did in the most spectacular fashion possible as they drew level again within three minutes. Bellamy collected possession on the left flank, but he then unleashed a stunning rising angled drive from 25 yards that arrowed into the top corner beyond the outstretched arms of Foster.

It provoked a furious attacking response from United, and only the brilliant Given kept City in the game as the goalkeeper demonstrated his enduring talents once more. Given twice saved headers from Berbatov and then added to his catalogue of outstanding stops by turning a powerful drive from Giggs over the top.

United boss Ferguson was clearly frustrated at his side's failure to emphasise their obvious superiority, and he replaced Berbatov with Owen on 77 minutes.

When the goal came with 10 minutes remaining, it once again arrived from the unlikely source of Fletcher, who headed home a free-kick from Giggs. Sadly Ferdinand committed an error to gift Man City an equalizer for the third time in the game! , extravagantly attempting to lift the ball away he only found Petrov, who sent Bellamy clear. Bellamy raced to in front and beat a stretched Foster at the near post.

As City fans celebrated an unlikely point the board went up for four minutes of stoppage time - so it was to the obvious consternation of Hughes that it was closer to six minutes when Owen pounced on Giggs's pass to send Old Trafford into ecstasy with a clinical finish.