THE INDEPENDENT - SCHOLES THE HEAD BOY SHOWS UNITED THE WAY BACK TO THE TOP
Colours of the day down Sir Matt Busby Way: the greyest of Manchester mornings gave way to sunshine by lunchtime and a burst of sky-blue optimism, but, rightly, it was another red-letter afternoon in the end for the new Premiership leaders. It usually is in derby games at Old Trafford, the memories of Manchester City's most recent victory becoming more and more shrouded by the passage of time. It was 1974, on the day of Denis Law's famous backheel and United's relegation, when blue was last the colour.
The 3-1 home win at Maine Road last November was all the more rapturously received, yet had the paradoxical effect of galvanising United to regain their championship, under threat of Sir Alex Ferguson breaking up the side. Instead, he was able to augment it more subtly during last summer; yesterday the Brazilian World Cup winner Kleberson and the American goalkeeper Tim Howard played a part, though, unsurprisingly on a derby day, it was the old hands who were keenest and most influential.
Or Keanest - the United captain played his usual massively influential role, as well as bawling out the slightest sloppiness as City were allowed back into the game after half-time; the Neville brothers threw themselves wholeheartedly into everything, with Gary the elder having a foot in all three goals; then there was Paul Scholes, starting a Premiership match for the first time in two months and demonstrating the scoring ability that so mysteriously deserts him with England. Ruud van Nistelrooy is getting the hang of these occasions too; his goal, United's second, was a 96th in 123 appearances for the club.
City, as Keegan admits, have hit "a bumpy road". United are enjoying a much smoother ride, at home and abroad. "Some derby games in my experience have been very poor, but at times today we played some fantastic football," said a contented Ferguson. "I feel we'll get stronger as the season goes on." And they are on top again already.
THE OBSERVER - STOCKPORT, STOCKPORT GIVE US A SONG
You could tell that this was a Manchester derby by the extra bite to the banter between supporters chanting insults at each other throughout the game. A good thing, too, because you would never have guessed that anything extra was at stake from events on the pitch.
All week, former players and radio pundits have been coming up with the old line about ripping up the formbook on derby day, but it is about time that canard was laid to rest. This game went exactly to expectation, except that Manchester United did not hit five or six goals and Kevin Keegan did not resign afterwards.
Both events might have occurred had the home side been firing on all cylinders, but as Sir Alex Ferguson suggested afterwards, as diplomatically as he could, it is quite difficult for players who have just qualified for the last 16 of the Cham- pions League to keep up their motivation in run-of- the-mill league fixtures, especially ones in which they take the lead after seven minutes
The fact that United took their foot off the pedal and allowed Manchester City back into the game allowed Keegan and his players to escape with self-esteem reasonably intact, although a ghastly first-half non-performance seemed to indicate the visiting team have problems greater than a run of eight games without a win. City took four points from United last season, yet went into this game so timidly that Keegan was obliged to issue a wake-up call at half-time
United were two up at half-time and the supporters were busy trying to inject life into a contest struggling to live up to its billing. 'Massive club? You're having a laugh,' sang the Stretford End. 'Manchester? You're having a laugh,' rejoined the visiting fans. 'Stockport, Stockport give us a song,' came the final, withering put-down.
THE SUNDAY TIMES - 28 YEARS
The Manchester Evening News has been entertaining its readers with pictures of demolition workers levelling Maine Road clad in United shirts. Yesterday, the team the Mancunian wrecking crew support inflicted similar damage on City, winning a low-key derby more convincingly than the scoreline would suggest.
"Twenty-Eight Years" the red legions crowed, and if City continue to play as poorly as this it could be another 28 before they are victorious at Old Trafford. United won much as they pleased, never needing to change up to top gear. Paul Scholes, who scored twice, and Roy Keane were the game’s dominant influences, denying their lightweight opponents midfield momentum.
The biggest disappointment of a match which struggled to rise above the routine was the lack of passion we have come to associate with this fixture. Alf Inge Haaland did his best to stir things up, renewing verbal hostilities with Keane over that infamous, career-threatening challenge for which the United captain was sent off, but Haaland’s old teammates were not up for revenge, legitimate or otherwise.
A marked reluctance to put their bodies on the line was reflected in the statistics, which showed just the two players booked and only one minute of added time needed — small beer by derby standards.
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH - THEY DON'T GO OUT TO DINNER TOGETHER
Tommy Docherty, that inveterate peddler of cliches, was recycling another old line before kick-off by telling us that form goes out of the window in derby games.
There was some truth to this, if only for the fact that Manchester City's form went out of the window weeks ago, arriving here without a win in seven games and with manager Kevin Keegan apparently manoeuvring himself into position for another of his walkouts by suggesting the board might sack him.
United, on the other hand, are just setting themselves up for the business end of the season, having already done enough to throw down the championship gauntlet to Arsenal and Chelsea, despite defeat at Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago.
So when they took the lead in the seventh minute en route to cruising through the opening half, we were tut-tutting at Docherty's trite assessment. Roy Keane was so eager to impose himself on the match after being rested in midweek, that he was involved three times in the move that brought the goal, recycling it rugby style until Gary Neville crossed for Paul Scholes to head in at the near post.
The only immediate cloud on United's horizon is Rio Ferdinand's appearance before the Football Association on Thursday and Friday to explain a charge of failing to take a drugs test, assuming he can remember the reason why. But with Wes Brown close to full fitness, even that might not strain resources too greatly.
Keegan denied there is any lack of harmony in his dressing room, even if that often appears the case on the pitch. He said: "They don't go out to dinner together but that doesn't mean they can't be friends on the pitch."
As referee Mark Halsey blew the final whistle, McManaman took a pot shot at the United goal and Howard instinctively saved it. It seemed to sum up the day.