Iwan (@IwanLehnert):

Where exactly did that winner come from? For all intents and purposes, it looked as if we were going to fall victim to a strong second-half revival led by the Neckless one, but one inexplicably outstretched leg later, we’re 2-3 up and mania ensues. It’s another last minute winner that’ll stick in the memory alongside the likes of Owen, Rooney and Scholes, and it gives us a very handy cushion on top of the Premier League. It was tempestuous, hard-fought, engrossing and intense. And we bloody won it. Wonderful.

……….Fine, there’s a bit more to it than that. I don’t think any of us were wildly surprised to see City start strongly after such a meek exit from Europe last week. We hardly got a touch, save for one botched attempt at a cross early, and City were growing in confidence when Rooney scuffed home. It felt like one of those amazing moments where time almost stops and you feel like you have the time to run the length of a pitch before the ball crosses the line. The second was beautifully worked, lovely cross and finish with Rooney ghosting in wonderfully. After that, we were on top, then Young didn’t score, and suddenly we weren’t. To be honest, it wasn’t a massive shock when Zabaleta drilled home so clinically to equalise; City were getting closer, and Tevez had turned the game around. His bite got them in gear, and they were finishing the game strongly. Then he tripped Rafael up, and BOOM. Bedlam. I was watching from home with my daughter asleep in my arms and shouted as quietly as I could for a full minute. What another amazing moment for last minute winners in Manchester derbies.

Ashley Young deserves some credit for his performance yesterday. He gets regularly slayed by many United fans, and whilst he’s not the most endearing of players, he showed up in a big way yesterday on a massive occasion. His delivery was good, his link-up play was superb and he fully deserved a goal.

I don’t know how philosophical City will be after yesterday; losing a derby like that is always a gorilla slap to the chops, but to have done so after clawing their way back into proceedings must be a stinger. Everyone and his talking dog could’ve told Mancini not to start Ballotelli, and it was a decision that proved a detriment to his team.

We were lucky? In a sense, sure. City were on top towards the end of the game and we were struggling. The counter attack worked wonderfully for almost an hour, but when the game turned and City stepped up the pressure, we found it hard to re-assert ourselves. But then again, we also had a goal disallowed, a clear penalty not given and saw Tevez inexplicably allowed to finish the match after kicking Phil Jones having already been booked. We played an effective strategy against a good side, we were unlucky on a few occasions but took our changes when they came. Whilst the marking for the equaliser needs looking at, this sort of strategy will come in very handy in Europe if properly deployed. I could watch us contain and counter any side all day if we do it that clinically.

It’s a big result considering that we have to travel to Swansea and entertain Newcastle and West Brom before January rolls around, and it shows that we are an incredibly capable football side when we want to be. I guess it’d be boring if we showed that every week, though.

Final thought: if you’re cowardly enough to pelt a player with a missile aimed at their head from the stands, then you’re one of the worst types of human being, regardless of who you support.

Brett:

Hands up who scoffed at my 2-5 prediction. You at the back there … oh just stretching, huh?! Well, technically it was 2-4, so, I was almost spot on. YES I WAS. AND the masking taped defence, I referenced in my pre-match thing, also unravelled with Kompany coming off early. No need to congratulate me all at once.

What a beautiful way to win this game that was, especially in light of them getting to keep the trophy we both share from last year’s title draw, as a result of their goal difference and all that last day stuff.

Fergie outdid himself with the line-up. Things were clicking. Even Ashley Young (the older) carried his form through for another game (shame it won’t last, I’ll give it another twenty minutes, but we can enjoy it for now). The defence, backed up by De Gea (who’d have thought that would work?) were relatively strong; the midfield with the effervescent (never used that word before – probably won’t again) Cleverley and composed Carrick did enough, and we all know about the two up-top. All that with the cherry, of T.V back in the side, on top. All very much better. Not great, but better.

Six points means nothing – we learned that last year, and in fact if anything affords the team ahead the opportunity to take their foot of the gas a bit, and therefore letting the other catch up again. But, that whole paragraph was just silly rambling – I’d much rather be ahead. I apologise.

City looked a bit more like their 2011/12 selves in the second half, which is a little ominous for those eyeing up second in the table. Their problems with motivation and managing individuals, which are more pressing than ours, still exist and long may they continue.

A great week to be a United fan – as they all are.

(Obviously, the fan who threw the coin at Rio forgot to sellotape it to the inside of a Christmas card – sorry, it’s very serious, and of course has no place anywhere, or a football match)

MOTM: Ashley Young, cus he won’t get this close to being in my good books for a while.

Iwan (@IwanLehnert):

Hands up if you’re also approaching this derby with audible caution. Both teams have great strikers, and faltering defences. Could be a cricket score, could be a scoreless draw. We could win it, they could win it. It’s far too close to call, and even if it doesn’t end up being a classic, it’ll be almost impossible to tear your eyes away from it. Thing is, it’s so tough to pick a winner because both teams are capable of so much more than we’ve seen this season. Both of us have had a season filled with tight, tense games. City have been getting late winners and United have been coming from behind. And yet even though we’ve flattered to deceive on so many occasions, we’re starting to pull away from third as early as December. To be honest, I’d feel quite proud if I didn’t feel like we were severely pushing our luck every week.

To be honest, despite Lindegaard, Jones and Smalling all getting games recently, the back five should be the same as it’s been for most of the season; De Gea back in net, Rafael, Evra, Rio and Evans. Job done. God knows what we’ll do with that midfield with Cleverley out, though. That’d leave us with only Giggs, Scholes, Carrick and Young fit and available. Doesn’t scream comfort, does it? Maybe that joke about a Ji-Sung Park emergency loan isn’t a terrible idea after all. Anyone know how to get him to channel the spirit of that performance against Pirlo in 2010…?

It’s worth thinking about just where we’d be without Van Persie this season, too. We’ve had large defensive and increasing midfield injuries again this season, but we’re top of the league, and through to the last sixteen in Europe. He’s scored 13 goals, and his presence and hard work has brought goals for those around him, too (that free kick for Hernandez’s goal v Villa. Phwooar). Without that added threat, who knows where we’d be? He’s the real spearhead in our attack, allowing Rooney to pull the strings when he has the space, and for the most part, it’s working. Take him out of the equation, and we’d be in a much more difficult position coming into the derby on Sunday.

All won’t be lost if we lose; we’ll be joint top on goal difference (in December this time, thank eff) with a long way left to try and turn things around. But, after last year’s league derbies, it will be so important to get a performance this weekend. Last season, we were destroyed at home, and at the Etihad, we wilted and lost our grip on the league. If our defence continues its self-imposed awareness hiatus, then we’ll be relying on our attack again. I know; I can’t wait either.

Predictions: 1-1. Too scared to predict a win, too confident to think we’ll lose.

By the final whistle, I hope that: We’ll have seen at least two shots of Joe Hart with his hands on his hips in dismay. Same for Tevez. His celebrations are always, ALWAYS awful to behold against us. Fingers crossed for all involved that no one decides to say “CARLOS TEVEZ BITES THE HAND THAT USED TO FEED HIM.”

Brett:

Have I told you lately, that I love U-nited? Well, I do, and more often than is healthy, this blinds me to reality – this is possibly one of those occasions. *Sharp intake of breath* I’ve got the most wonderful feeling that we’re going to thrash them!! Hold on a second, before all three of you who sometimes skim read this close your web browser … I’M DEADLY SERIOUS!!!!!! Okay, you can close the browser now.

We are struggling a teeny, tiny bit with defence, granted, but with De Gea coming back into the side, and Rio and Jonny at centre, much of those problems (brought about by reintegrating unfit players into the matchday squad) will disappear. THE midfield “issue” has been going on so long, that at some point we’re just going to have to accept Roy’s gone, never to return. Carrick always does well against City’s midfield – barring individual errors. Whoever slips in alongside him will be brilliant (hopefully Cleverley will be fit). Up top we’re devastating at times, and at some point, it’s all going to click and someone is going to feel the full brunt of that (City this weekend).

City are struggling more than the results suggest. They used up much of their individual and collective mental strength (or arrogance, whichever) last season. Their poor defence is currently being held together by masking tape a.k.a a broken Vincent Kompany and even Joe Hart is feeling the pressure of that. Their midfield hasn’t worked, as Mancini’s poor signings have disrupted, not consolidated what they already have. The three big problems, Silva, Aguero and Toure have been bitty, at best, so far.

So, when we’ve stuffed a hatful in the onion bag, and everyone’s saying, “No-one could have predicted that”, point them in my direction.

Prediction: 2 -5

Goals: ORVP 2, Rooney, Danny 2

I can't hear you!

I would! *ducks behind desk*

 Feel free to projectile spew your vitriol in my direction below…

(And I will happily defend why *I would* in reply to any comments)