1973
City and Tottenham Hotspur met on this day in 1973 for a Division One clash at White Hart Lane. The game was played in front of a 30,944 crowd, the majority of whom would go home disappointed as a double from Martin Chivers was not enough for the win and the Blues rallied to win the game 3-2.
Francis Lee grabbed a brace and Rodney Marsh scored the other to ensure the Blues’ fans headed back to Manchester with a smile on their faces.
The game started with City taking the lead but were soon pegged back by a Tottenham equaliser. City re-took the lead again in the second half and made it 3-1 with a great header from Marsh. Tottenham managed to pull one back but it was too little too late as the result ensured City moved into eighth place in the table.
2002
City hosted fellow Division One promotion challengers Preston North. The Lilywhites broke the deadlock after 47 minutes when John Macken fired home. However, City were back on level terms within two minutes as Shaun Wright-Phillips netted the equaliser.
The Blues then took the initiative and grabbed another two goals, Steve Howey scored in the 56th minute and Paulo Wanchope in the 74th to put the game out of sight of the visitors. Iain Anderson scored in the 90th minute to bring it back to 3-2 and ensure one or two nervous moments but the hosts were able to hold on for the three points.
2008
The 2008 Manchester derby will be remembered for the moving tribute made to the victims of the Munich air disaster as the 50th anniversary of the tragic incident was marked by both clubs.
Manchester United wore a replica of the 1958 shirts as worn by the Busby Babes and City joined their neighbours by having no sponsors name on their shirts. City had not won at Old Trafford for 34 years and following the impeccably observed minute silence, the game was underway.
The match started in frantic fashion and United came close to scoring in the seventh minute, but a flying save from Joe Hart kept it level. The breakthrough came for the visitors in the 24th minute when Darius Vassell slotted home from ten yards after his initial shot was blocked by Edwin van der Sar.
City could sense that United were reeling and it was 2-0 just before half-time as Benjani Mwaruwari turned a brilliant Martin Petrov in off his shoulder eight yards out from goal to mark his City debut in style.
United tried to rally in the second half when Paul Scholes played a threaded pass through the middle to Michael Carrick who slotted home from 12 yards, but City held on to claim a memorable and long overdue win.
