Sat Sept 10 v Man UnitedUpdated: October 3rd, 2007
Here’s the breakdown of the action compiled from live match commentary:
Match reports
United 1 City 1 (MEN)
‘In the corresponding fixture last season, Kevin Keegan ditched his attacking philosophy to grind out a goalless draw, a move Pearce was largely credited with being the brains behind.
This time around, City were slightly less negative, but just as organised, retaining their shape and largely subduing a United midfield lacking a rested Roy Keane.’
Smart City make point for Pearce (The Times)
‘Pearce may have been tempted to revel in the role of the apprentice coming back to haunt the disdainful sorceror, but he thought better of it. “He just gave me a grim ‘well done’ and I gave him one back,” City’s increasingly impressive young manager said, adding that he had not heard anything of Ferguson’s usual courtesy of inviting his opposite number for a post-match drink.’
Keane’s absence lifts City (Daily Telegraph)
‘At half-time and a goal down, Pearce demonstrated the defiance he displayed as a player. Barton recalled: “He said we had come here with a game plan and if we stuck to it we could turn Manchester United over. If we believed in that, then we could do it. This place has been a fortress ever since I’ve been a boy and for us to believe we can get something here shows just how far we have come.”
Pearce draws United sting and tells it as it was (The Guardian)
‘Ferguson offered a wonderfully biased version of events that City had “parked themselves on the edge of their own penalty area and hoped for scraps”. A more accurate assessment was that City had taken the sting out of their opponents long before then and were finishing as the more likely winners.’
Van der Sar spares United blushes as City’s stock rises (The Observer)
‘Manchester City deserved this point and but for a tremendous save by Edwin van der Sar in stoppage time they would have had all three.’
Bad boy Joey a hero now (The People)
‘After counselling and some wise words from boss Stuart Pearce, Barton is steadily re-building a career destined for the scrap-heap.’
Barton tempers United’s ambition (Independent on Sunday)
“We came with a plan and we felt we got it right,” Pearce said. “United probably won’t get as few chances all season as they got from us.”
Van der Sar saves United from blues (Sunday Telegraph)
‘The establishment of a new Mancunian order was never going to be achieved in a matter of weeks but City, after this defiant draw, remain above United in the table.’
City earn derby point (Sky)
‘The outstanding Richard Dunne and Sylvain Distin repelled the home side’s advances and Cole so nearly gave City their first Old Trafford win in 31 years after being teed up 15 yards from goal by Sinclair.’
Man Utd 1-1 Man City (BBC)
“They didn’t deserve what they got, but that’s football,” said Alex Ferguson, gracefully.
What the papers said about the players
James
Was unlucky with the United goal (MEN)
Commanded his area (Sky)
Mills (Sun Jihai 72)
Did well at right-back and threw himself into the derby spirit (MEN)
Dominated Heinze on City’s right flank… a triumph for the City full-back’s steadfastness (Guardian)
Poor passing (Sky)
Dunne
Looked solid throughout and continues his fine form (MEN)
Robust (Guardian)
Outstanding once again (Sky)
Distin
Did well considering it was his comeback from injury (MEN)
Outstanding (Sky)
Thatcher
Typically combative performance by the Welshman (MEN)
Robust (Guardian)
Strong and uncompromising (Sky)
Sinclair
Drifted in and out of the game (MEN)
Creative outlet (Sky)
Reyna
Not as influential as in the other games this season (MEN)
Fought for every ball in midfield (Times)
The game’s outstanding midfielder (Guardian)
Another solid display (Sky)
Barton
Was quiet until he scored (MEN)
Fought for every ball in midfield (Times)
Man of the match… industrious Barton looked sharper than Fletcher or Scholes (Observer)
Calm and controlled (Sky)
Musampa (Sibierski 72)
A spirited performance from the Dutchman (MEN)
Very disappointing (Sky)
Vassell (Fowler 84)
Overall it was a quiet performance from Vassell, but he played a crucial role in the goal (MEN)
Had been quiet throughout (Sky)
Cole
Did not pose much of a threat until a superb last-minute shot (MEN)
Almost won it (Sky)
Subs not used:
Weaver, Onuoha.
I’d do what he says, mate
Great quote from Pearce after the game. Asked what he said to Giggs when he came on he replied: “I think the words were ‘don’t effing score against my team’. The ‘f’ was ‘flipping’.”