Two goals from Bermudan international Shaun Goater gave Manchester City a fully deserved 3-1 victory over their city rivals United at Maine Road this afternoon. Nicholas Anelka had opened the scoring as early as the fifth minute, but United responded through Ole Gunnar Solskjaer within three minutes after a typically pulsating opening. However, Goater restored City's advantage on 26 minutes and added a second five minutes after the break to give the Maine Road side their first victory over United in 13 years in the final league meeting between the two at the ground.
For all United's superiority over the years, City fans have always clung steadfastly to the belief that they are the real Manchester club. And City went about proving that this afternoon with a purposeful display and a surprising defensive stability which must have delighted manager Kevin Keegan.
Meanwhile, United's defensive frailties were all to obvious as Anelka dispossessed Rio Ferdinand with ease, fed Goater to his left and though the Bermudan's effort lacked conviction, Barthez couldn't hold it and his fellow Frenchman tapped home to put City in front. The visitors hit back three minutes later when Giggs volleyed a cross into the box which caught Lucien Mettomo asleep and allowed Solskjaer to latch onto it unopposed and ram home from close range.
Gary Neville, captaining United in the absence of the injured Roy Keane and suspended David Beckham, was at fault for City's second when he attempted to shepherd an aimless Marc-Vivien Foe pass back to Fabien Barthez on the end-line. However, Goater easily dispossessed him as the England full-back hesitated, and he broke inside to curl a right-foot effort past Barthez.
It should have been three before the interval but Anelka's finish lacked confidence as he raced onto Goater's lobbed pass and Barthez made up for what looked like a poor attempt to keep out the initial shot leading up to City's opener. City had established a two-goal cushion within five minutes of the re-start, with Neville again the culprit, gifting the home side possession with a weak clearance to Niclas Jensen, who crossed for Eyal Berkovic to set-up Goater for a personal century for The Blues.
United boss Alex Ferguson responded by replacing Neville and the ineffective Juan Sebastion veron with John O'Shea and Diego Forlan, but the next goal should have been City's as Anelka evaded a woeful offside trap, then was tripped as he cut inside Barthez, only to find referee Paul Durkin giving United a free-kick.
City captain Peter Schmeichel was called upon to save from Solskjaer and Giggs and van Nistelrooy used all his guile trying to win a penalty late on, but City emerged with a comfortable win against their neighbours to move them to 10th in the table.
Filed by Shane Murray
