It remains the largest winning margin in any Manchester Derby, as Roberto Mancini’s men humbled United in emphatic fashion at Old Trafford thanks to goals from Sergio Aguero, David Silva and a brace apiece for Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko.
Below, you can find 10 things you might not know about our historic 6-1 victory on this day...
1 | Mancini’s century
The 161st Manchester Derby was already guaranteed to be a major milestone for City boss Roberto Mancini, regardless of the result.
Having taken the reins in December 2009, the Italian was celebrating his 100th competitive match in charge of the Club when we made the short journey to Old Trafford on 23 October 2011.
In the 99 games prior, Mancini had overseen 57 wins in the City dugout, but it’s safe to say that no. 58 perhaps made the biggest statement of all.
2 | Old Trafford record
Our opponents boasted a ruthless home record leading into the 161st Manchester Derby, avoiding defeat at Old Trafford for over a year.
Indeed, United hadn’t lost on their own patch since Chelsea had come away with a 1-0 win in April 2010.
They went unbeaten at Old Trafford for the entirety of the following season, in which they claimed the title and, prior to City’s visit in October 2011, the Reds had also won 19 successive Premier League home matches.
But as the famous adage reads, records are there to be broken.
3 | Jonny Evans’ red card
City took full advantage of Jonny Evans’ dismissal for a professional foul on Mario Balotelli just two minutes after the restart, running riot in a devastating second half.
It was the hosts’ only sending off across the entire Premier League season, with City seeing red on five occasions en route to a maiden Premier League title.
Queens Park Rangers, our opponents on that famous final day of the season, were handed nine across the campaign, more than any other team.
4 | Goal difference
With United down to ten men, City would have been forgiven for exercising caution to preserve our lead going into the final stages of the match.
However, as Micah Richards revealed back in 2019, Roberto Mancini urged his players to not take their foot off the pedal at Old Trafford.
“Mancini said ‘don’t stay back, just go and attack’,” the former City defender told mancity.com.
“He kept saying goal difference would be important at the end of the season. Every game it was ‘goal difference, goal difference, goal difference.’”
The Italian’s words proved prophetic. If the game had finished 2-1 to City, we would have finished with an identical record to United, claiming 89 points, scoring 89 goals and conceding 29.
5 | Worst Premier League defeat
Our emphatic victory in the Manchester Derby was United’s worst defeat in the Premier League era.
Both Chelsea and Newcastle had previously claimed 5-0 triumphs during the 1990s, but Sir Alex Ferguson’s men had only conceded six in the Premier League once before, against Southampton at the Dell in 1996.
Tottenham also came away from Old Trafford with a 6-1 win more recently in October 2020, but no side has ever bettered City’s winning margin in the Premier League against the Red Devils.
6 | 57 years in the making
At the time, United also hadn’t experienced as heavy a defeat on home soil in almost 60 years.
Matt Busby’s side, who would go on to claim successive First Division titles in the following two seasons, were beaten 5-0 at Old Trafford on 12 February 1955.
Their opponents that day? None other than Manchester City.
7 | Lescott’s assist
Joleon Lescott grabbed six assists during his five seasons at City, with the last of those coming when he cut the ball back for Edin Dzeko to smash home our fourth against United.
It was certainly a memorable occasion to grab his final one for the Club!
8 | Mancini’s son
Our 6-1 victory was one of City’s best performances under Roberto Mancini and his son, Filippo, was there to witness it first-hand.
Mancini jnr. was spotted in the away end, celebrating an historic triumph with the City supporters in the corner of Old Trafford’s East Stand.
The Italian turned out for City’s Elite Development Squad between 2011 and 2013.
9 | El Mago’s golden touch
David Silva’s defence-splitting pass for City’s sixth goal perfectly demonstrated the Spaniard’s incredible technical ability.
The Spaniard sent Edin Dzeko through on goal with a sumptuous, volleyed pass to claim his sixth assist of the season.
Silva went on to earn the most assists in the Premier League that season (15), the most in a single campaign by any Premier League player since Cesc Fabregas had registered 17 for Arsenal in 2007-08.
Across the 36 Premier League matches he featured in during 2011-12, El Mago was involved in an incredible 23 goals.
10 | City’s late strikes
City’s final three goals at Old Trafford all arrived in the space of just five minutes.
Edin Dzeko tapped home from a Joleon Lescott cutback after the hosts failed to clear a corner in the 89th minute, and David Silva coolly slotted home number five early in stoppage time.
But there was still time for Dzeko to complete his brace, with Silva turning from scorer to provider just two minutes later to send the Bosnian through on goal.
The rest, as they say, is history.
