Manchester United vs Manchester City - 10 Feb 2008

Match 150 of 154 v Manchester City<< First < Prev | Next > Latest >>

Match 36 of 57 in 2007-2008<< First < Prev | Next > Latest >>

The computer generating the fixtures for 2007-2008 delivered a Manchester derby for the match at Old Trafford nearest to 6 February. An all-Manchester occasion was fitting, especially as one of the reporters to die at Munich was Frank Swift, a former City goalkeeper. Scarves in respective colours were on every seat in the stadium. The teams in 1950s-style kit, devoid of logos, were led onto the pitch by a lone piper. The two managers laid wreaths in the centre-circle. The scarves were held aloft and a one-minute silence was impeccably observed. It was a suitably moving beginning. What should then have followed was a dazzling display by the home team, reminiscent of Busby’s babes. But it didn’t happen.

It was the one hundred and fiftieth derby match and City hadn’t won one at Old Trafford since 1973-1974. (One that occasion, Denis Law famously back-healed the winner to send Manchester United into Division Two.) Despite a recent wobble, and an international break, Manchester United were the form team. They should have won easily, but didn’t. Manchester United were poor. Vidic was hesitant, Ferdinand gave away the ball, Giggs and Nani didn’t deliver, and Ronaldo was a shadow of his normal self. For City, Dunne, Richards, Hamann, Ireland and Hart all played well. Vassell scored midway through the first half and Benjani added the second just before half-time. Carrick did score in injury time, but it was too little too late. It was as if the burden of expectation was all too much. The occasion got to the team in a way no one expected.

Manchester United won their next six Premiership games, scoring eighteen goals and conceding only one. Their form soon returned and swept them to their seventeenth league title. They also won the UEFA Champions League, beating Chelsea in the final in Moscow. This European success eclipsed their 10 February performance. Fifty years after a European adventure ended in tragedy, in 2007-2008 it ended in triumph.