Manchester City v Manchester United: Will it be a Blue or Red Monday in Manchester?
It's being billed as unmissable. Ninety minutes of pure unrivalled derby action which will go some way to determining who will be crowned Premier League champions. But will it be Roberto Mancini's City or Sir Alex Ferguson's Red Devils who will head into the final two games of the season in the driving seat?
Manchester City looked to have the title sewn up at Christmas. They were playing the best football in the league by far and scoring for fun. City were like a teenager boy who had been locked in the Playboy mansion . . . in heaven! But then Yaya Toure went away for the African Cup of Nations and injuries and suspensions to key players started to take their toll.
United, buoyed by the return of the experienced Paul Scholes, started to chop away at City's lead and not only did Fergie's men catch up with them, they overtook their city rivals. At one stage United took an eight-point lead and everyone, including Mancini, believed title number 20 was in the bag for the Red Devils. Then United inexplicably lost to Wigan Athletic and dropped two huge points at home to Everton last weekend to bring City back to within three points of the champions.
Since losing to Arsenal, and throwing in the towel, City have put four past West Brom, hit Norwich for six and relegated Wolves. Roberto Mancini may say that United are still the title favourites but City have it in their own hands.
If City win tonight they go top on goal difference. Only Sunderland have stopped City from recording a 100 per cent winning record at the Etihad this season, although United did knock City out of the FA Cup on their own patch back in January.
Manchester United have been in this position time and time again, which makes their recent results so strange. Losing to Wigan and dropping points from being 4-2 up is not very Manchester United like. However, they know that as long as they avoid defeat the title should be theirs and their recent record at the Etihad will give them great confidence. Last season they played out a goalless draw and the year before United won it right at the death thanks to Paul Scholes.
In fact you have to go back to 2007 for the last time City beat United at home. That was courtesy of the Brazilian Geovanni. With the likes of Aguero, Nasri, Silva and Tevez - who would bet against him scoring against his former side - City have the firepower to shoot down any side. But then United have Wayne Rooney, who always raises his game for the big occasions.
Mancini gave City fans their greatest memory ever when they thrashed Manchester United 6-1 at Old Trafford in October. Can the Italian go one better tonight by guiding them to within two wins of the title? Our pundits believe this could be a Blue Monday for Manchester.
Manchester City v Manchester United; Kick Off 8pm April 30 2012
Prediction Panel
|
Arsenal |
Don McMahon |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Aston Villa |
Frank Pattison |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Blackburn |
Terry Kennedy |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Bolton |
Dave Blackburn |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Chelsea |
Joe Tyler |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Everton |
Chris Goodwin |
3 |
V |
2 |
|
Fulham |
Neil Springate |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Liverpool |
Mark Williams |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Man City |
Callum Rothwell |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Man Utd |
Peter Lee |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Newcastle |
Michael Stout |
3 |
V |
2 |
|
Norwich City |
Sue Read |
4 |
V |
2 |
|
QPR |
Arjun Swaminathan |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Stoke City |
Philip Eccleston |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Sunderland |
Tony Ratton |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Tottenham |
Mike Richards |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Swansea |
Jim White |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
West Brom |
Andy Wakeman |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Wigan |
Alan Moore |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Wolves |
Chris Cox |
3 |
V |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OUR EXPERTS |
|
|
|
|
|
Writer |
Colin Illingworth |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Steve Coulter |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Phil Bundy |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Mitch Waddon |
3 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Matt Turner |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Writer |
Chris Pettitt |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Hugh Larkin |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Aston Villa fan |
Lynette Ranson |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Blackpool fan |
Phil Trow |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Boro fan |
Sue Gardener |
2 |
V |
3 |
|
Fulham fan |
Russell Goldman |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Pompey fan |
Dan Taylor |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Pompey fan |
Peter Rendle |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
West Ham fan |
Matthew Beeby |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
West Ham fan |
Nigel Telfer |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Editor |
Antony Melvin |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
Panel Verdict
It looks like it will be advantage City in the title race.
Home: 20; Draw: 11; Away: 2. TBC 3.
* Do we have it right or do you know better? We’d love to hear from you.
