City deserved United scalp as title beckons

The English Premier League season is winding down, with two matches to go in the world’s most watched football league. Manchester United, from cantering to yet another title, have managed to find banana peels on the pitch against Wigan, Everton and now their fiercest rivals on the other side of town, Manchester City, after the Citizens won their highly-anticipated derby 1-0.

While Wigan and Everton deserved the spoils they looted against the reigning champions, the Red Devils have been culpable in their own misery. They took Wigan lightly and through a sub-par performance lost the plot against a side playing some of the best football in the league over the last couple of months. Against the Toffees, with a two goal cushion and 10 minutes to go, United switched off thinking their job was done. They were given a skrik and those two points they dropped as a result of David Moyes’ team drawing the game will haunt them come season’s end.

On a different note, Moyes continues to show that he is one of the best managers in the league, given the fiscal restraints of managing Everton. The Scot is now one of the longest serving managers around, no small feat in a league pressurised by the wants of business and moody owners (Chelsea anyone?). A possible candidate for United when Sir Alex Ferguson finally decides to walk away.

Speaking of Ferguson, he erred tactically by starting Park Ji-Sung instead of Antonio Valencia, who had been ripping up the pitch with some fine performances before being demoted to the bench for the Manchester derby. It left Wayne Rooney isolated up-front, and while it was understandable why Ferguson attempted to flood the midfield (that 6-1 result might have been haunting him), the move backfired as the South Korean had a poor match with United creating little in scoring opportunities. His midfield cohorts Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick and Nani didn’t cover themselves in glory neither.

City’s goal came from the impressive City skipper Vincent Kompany, who left Chris Smalling for dead and powered his header past United keeper David de Gea, who still looks fallible from balls whipped into the box. After that, Ferguson only made changes late into the second half, surprising from a manager as experienced as the old Scot. Phil Jones didn’t have the best match neither, providing average-at-best service into the box.

The introduction of Valencia and Ashley Young saw United use the flanks more industriously, but it was to no avail. Roberto Mancini, the City manager who didn’t back down when Ferguson threw his toys into the second half amid a confrontation between the two, sent on Nigel de Jong as City shut up shop. With the title hanging in the balance, wouldn’t you? He still had the outstanding Yaya Toure to maraud up the pitch when the opportunity presented itself, making the Ivorian’s performance all the more immaculate as he and Gareth Barry snuffed out United’s midfield.

This result leaves City in prime position to win their first league title in over 40 years, and their first Premiership title. With Newcastle away and QPR at home left for City, and Swansea at home and Sunderland away for United, it’s squeaky bum time for the whole of Manchester.

City remain favourites considering their superior goal difference of eight over United, but with the Magpies pushing for a place in next season’s Champions League (if Chelsea don’t win it), it’s all to play for at St. James Park. If City make it out of Newcastle with three points, it’s their title to lose.