0′

It’s the 149th competitive meeting between these two teams. It’s very rare that City have the ascendency coming into the fixture, but after mixed fortunes for United and a strong start by the new-look City, there’s a four point gulf between the two sides, in favour of the blue half of Manchester.

0′

No doubt about it, City have as good a chance as they are ever going to have to beat United today. It’s too early to say the Red Devils are in crisis, after all, we’re just two games in. But without Rooney, United looked to be struggling for goals on Wednesday. Sven’s done really well at City so far, a win against United will probably set the tone for a special season.

0′

Owen Hargreaves makes his League debut for the visitors after weeks of trouble with tendonitis in his knee. It will be a welcomed boost to Alex Ferguson who has a depleted squad. Carlos Tevez must fly the flag alone up front in the absence of Rooney, Solskjaer and Saha. Meanwhile, Ronaldo starts his three match ban after being shown a straight red against Portsmouth in mid-week after head-butting Richard Hughes. The sending off was probably a bit harsh as replays showed that the incident was nothing more than the usual handbags in the penalty area.

1′

City kick off. Eastlands is rocking, there’s a tangible sense of hope around the place. On paper it’s a game United should win, but confidence is high at City and in football, you just never know.

3′

Hargreaves makes an early surgung run forward. Ferguson will be thankful to have a tireless workhorse in midfield to complement his flair on the wing

5′

Double save from the young Schmeichel low down to his near post as Nani gets an opening sight of goal. Fairly comfortable for the young las in the end, but good for his confidence as his Dad looks on from the stands.

6′

Two early corners for the visitors but nothing comes from them. United are still pressing though and so far look the more threatening team.

7′

It will be intersting to see how Carrick and Hargreaves play together. At the moment it’s Carrick who is playing ahead of the newcomer, but both players are equally capable of carrying the ball.

8′

Substitution (City) (out) Bojinov V. (in) Mpenza E

9′

Interestingly, United have not won in the league since beating City in May. That equates to five games.

10′

United are packing the midfield making it difficult for City to play. They’ll have to stretch the match out wide if they are to isolate the defence and get something. Still, it’s early doors.

11′

Nani’s not afraid to get hold of the ball. For a youngster making his third appearance in the Premiership, he has not fear.

13′

Chorluka’s going to have a long afternoon, because everything is coming down the left for United. The early chance, and then a cross that drifted into touch. I’ve got a feeling Nani’s going to have a stormer.

16′

Second goos stop from Schmeichel, again from Nani, this time it’s a low drive from 15 yards out, but the keeper gets down early and comfortably gets to it.

19′

A good spell of pressure from the visitors, again forcing two corners. This time Giggs plays it short for Hargreaves to whip it in in, Schmeichel comes to claim it but flaps at thin air. He’s luckly that Dunne is covering.

19′

Elano’s gone down like he’s been shot. Hargreaves went in hard but got the ball. The Brazilian needs to realise that the Premiership’s a tough league.

21′

They’re targeting Elano, the playmaker for City. All inocuous stuff mind, as the Brazilian is left hobbling after a Scholes challenge.

24′

Evra really should have scored, coming in from the left. The ball comes to Nani, with his back to the play, a cheeky back heel sends Evra through, the keeper is quick to react and comes rushing out. It probable puts Evra off who shots wide at the near post. There’s calls for a penalty after the full-back comes in to make the challenge but it was a fair advantage by referee Clattenburg and the scores stay level.

27′

Awesome bit of defending from Richards, Carrick slides Tevez through, but Richards has the legs to come from the corner to nick the ball away. City are becoming stretched at the back and look stunned after the first half an hour was all United.

31′

Goal (City) Geovanni

32′

I eat my words! Geovanni slots home from what must have been 20 yards. The striker gets a kind deflection from Vidic but even without it, the shot would have beaten van der Saar. The epitome of the cliche ‘against the run of play’. Big, big shock!

33′

Yellow card (United) Brown W.

34′

If United loose this match, my money is on Fergie downing that bottle of wine Sven bought him. He’ll be bitterly disappointed to be behind after his side has been by far the more superior so far today.

36′

The game is far more even now and is stretching by the minute. There’s more goals in this one yet.

37′

You’ve got to love City fans. They couldn’t buy a goal at Eastlands last year, now there’s chants of ‘ole’ as the home side retain possession.

42′

The shots have dried up, but there’s still plenty of action in the middle as City start to look comfortab;e. Scholes has played really well sao far, so too has Nani, but the star man for me at the moment is Micah Richards. He’s made three vital interceptions this half. He saved Shmeichel’s blushes a moment ago after the yound lad spilled a low bobbling shot, with Scholsey steaming in.

44′

Nani has another go from distance this time the ball bounces a foot wide, but the keeper looked to have it covered.

45′

United have plenty to do after the break. They don’t deserve to be one down after playing some nice stuff, but again they just don’t seem able to find an end product. Knowing Sven, City will defend the lead throughout the second period and will consider himself lucky to be in the lead.

46′

United get things under way for the second half.

48′

A searching ball down the right from Brown forces an early corner. Vidic rises above everybody and heads against the bar. It rebounds to Scholes who fluffs the half volley wide. An early warning for City who have a long 45 minutes ahead of them.

49′

United look in need of a big centre forward to sit well ahead of the midfield. Their build-uo play is faultless, but without a recognised ‘fox in the box’ they struggle to make ends meet.

50′

United have started the second half on the front foot without creating too much.

51′

Van der Saar is hassled by Geovanni and the keeper is forced into a rushed clearance.

54′

Again Richards makes the vital clearence, sliding in front of Tevez to intercept a low cross.

56′

Yellow card (City) Hamann D.

56′

A sloppy challenge by Hamann gives United a free kick in a dangerous position, but nothing comes from it.

57′

Yellow Card (City) Corluka V.

59′

Neat interplay from United results in Tevez back-heeling into the path of Scholes about 18 yards out. But the former England international blazes it over as time begins to tick for the visitors

60′

Substitution (United) (out) Nani. (in) Eagles C.

61′

Tevez didn’t get enough on it at the near post to steer it into the far post after a nice cross from Giggs.

63′

Elano comes off and he looks relieved! He really has been in the wars today, but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and the lad’s first derby will have toughened him up.

63′

Substitution (City) (out) Elano. (in) Bianchi R.

64′

A poor first touch from Geovanni ruins what would have been a two on one opportunity. As it was, Vidic clears and United again begin to press.

66′

A Geovanni free kick from 20 yards is comfortably held by van der Saar.

71′

City could have broke after Rio Ferdinand made a hash of controlling the ball on the half way line, but Petrov was just offside.

73′

Substitution (United) (out) Carrick M. (in) Campbell F.

73′

Substitution (United) (out) Brown W. (in) O’Shea J.

73′

United are ringing in the changes and the young striker Frazer Campbell comes on in attack in place of midfielder Carrick. They need to find a goal in these last fifteen minutes.

74′

Substitution (City) (out) Geovanni (in) Ball M.

75′

Again Dunne clears a low Giggs cross then City play it in to space to buy a bit of time.

77′

Corluka has a speculative 25 yard drive that has van der Saar jumping, but the ball goes over.

80′

M’penza gets set free down the right but can’t get enough height on his cross to avoid Vidic in the box.

83′

Sloppy challenge by M’penza on the edge on the angle of the box give United a free kick, but guess who clears it…yep, Micah Richards. The lad has been out of this world today.

86′

If City do hold on, they will be very lucky. They have not looked threatening going forward and still look like a team of strangers at times.

88′

The visitors are still pressing but just can’t find a way through. Their final ball has let them down today, not for the first time this season.

89′

Perhaps this is Uniteds last chance. A corner.

90′

Tevez should have levelled it, drifting in on the far post, the ball comes to him late, and the little Argentine couldn’t direct it around the post.

90′+3

Another corner, van der Saar comes forward but even he couldn’t get anything on it and the danger clears for now. The whistles ring out around the ground.

90′+3

Yellow Card (United) Ferdinand R.

90′+4

The final whistle blows and City have won it! THree wins out of three for City. I’d hate to be in the United dressing room now, they really should have won it after enjoying the lion’s share of possession. It’s the worst start to a Premiership campaign for United in fifteen years.

90′+5

City are now seven points clear of United. It’s still early days for United but if Chelsea are victorious against Liverpool later on, they are seven points behind them as well, with only three games gone. There was lots of good looking football from United, but they lacked the cutting edge. Credit to City though, they hung on well, thanks in part to my man of the match Micah Richards.