City deluded by mirage

It began as a celebration of City heroes. Players from the distant past said "hello again", a more recent one waved a poignant goodbye, and the sound of Oasis, Maine Road's favourite Britpoppers, rang out from Tannoy and Kippax alike.

The prospect of a derby day victory proved, however, to be a mirage. City did end one barren run, scoring their first goal against United for six hours, but they could not manage their first win for as many years. United's 3-2 victory was their third over City this season; as the joke goes, now they can keep them.

It is 13 matches since City's last success, the famous 5-1, but it seems even longer. When a group of white-haired ex-players were introduced before the game it was suggested they were the surviving members of that team. It will not be much consolation but, if City do go down, at least they will not have to suffer derby-day defeat next season - especially with Oldham heading for Division Two. They may even be able to chase a championship of their own, a feat they have not achieved in any division since 1968 (even that was overshadowed, United won the European Cup).

City have, at least, began competing in derbies. After losing 5-0 and 3-0 last season each defeat has been by the odd goal in this. United could not have complained if Saturday's match, and February's controversial FA Cup tie, had been drawn.

This slight narrowing of the gap demonstrates that there are a number of good players at City, several of them bought by Alan Ball. Last week's abject display at Bolton, and their poor first half on Saturday, shows that those players are yet to be moulded into a team.

On Saturday they handicapped themselves by attempting to man-mark Eric Cantona, a policy which rarely succeeds, and packing central midfield. Philip Neville and Denis Irwin were thus invited to join David Beckham and Ryan Giggs in attacking the flanks where Nicky Summerbee and Michael Frontzeck are both better going forward than defending.

This was quickly illustrated as Irwin played a one-two with Roy Keane before being rashly brought down by Summerbee. His father Mike, sitting next to Ball in the stand, may have had to cover his ears. Cantona scored from the spot, precipitating the first of several scuffles in the City seats as United supporters inadvertently - or recklessly - revealed themselves.

United relaxed and became careless. City rallied and, four minutes from the break, the debutant Mikhail Kavelashvili levelled after Niall Quinn nodded down Frontzeck's cross. Alas, for City, Nicky Butt and Cantona immediately enabled Cole to restore the lead.

A similar pattern followed City's deserved second equaliser, powerfully finished by Uwe Rosler from Nigel Clough's perceptive pass. Cantona was again the provider, Giggs, in stunning style, the executor. City, lifted by the introductions of Martin Phillips and Rosler, had chances before and after - but Peter Schmeichel was equal to them all.

Manchester United thus remained three points clear of Newcastle, who play at Blackburn tonight. Manchester United play Coventry at Old Trafford this afternoon. For a club steeped in legend they are making a habit of debunking accepted football lore. Having long disproved the one which says "form means nothing in derby matches" the performances of Butt, the Nevilles and Beckham suggests they may be about to dispel the belief that "you win nothing with kids".

City have good youngsters themselves in Brown and Phillips but it is so much easier to come into a successful side. The pair must continue their development at Wimbledon today with relegation looming. Apart from Aston Villa, in 1987, City are the only big-city club to go down since Tottenham dropped in 1977 (Newcastle are only recently restored as a big- city club). It has happened twice to City. Both times it took two seasons to return.

Judging by the middling standard of the First Division, City should be able to bounce straight back if relegated - if they can hang on to the likes of Kit Symons, Quinn and, most of all, Georgi Kinkladze.

It should not come to that. That trio, Keith Curle, Eike Immel, Rosler, Clough, and the two youngsters ought to be able to keep them up. It will need the courage and spirit they showed on Saturday to be applied in less glamorous games - starting today, against the side who are a byword for collective purpose.

Rosler's angry gestures towards Ball after his goal, and the manager's withering criticism of his team last week, suggests City cannot match Wimbledon in that department. But, if they needed reminding that there are worse things in football than being dropped, or bad performances, or losing to United, or even relegation, they had it before kick-off when Paul Lake appeared on the pitch.

After enough operations to fill a series of Casualty he has retired at 27 and was given a heartfelt send-off. He will stay involved at the club, but he will never fulfil his dreams. City can still aspire to better days, even if, for the time being, Mancunian glory looks like remaining the realm of the reds.

Goals: Cantona (pen, 6) 0-1; Kavelashvili (40) 1-1; Cole (41) 1-2; Rosler (71) 2-2; Giggs (77) 2-3.

Manchester City (4-1-3-2): Immel; Summerbee, Curle, Symons, Frontzeck (Phillips, h-t); Brightwell; Clough, Kinkladze, Brown; Quinn, Kavelashvili (Rosler, 69). Substitute not used: Margetson (gk).

Manchester United (4-4-1-1): Schmeichel; P Neville, G Neville, Bruce (May, 74), Irwin; Beckham, Keane, Butt, Giggs; Cantona; Cole (Sharpe, 74). Substitute not used: Scholes.

Referee: M Reed (Birmingham).

Bookings: Manchester City: Curle, Brown. Manchester United: G Neville, Cole, Butt.

Man of the match: Cantona

Attendance: 29,688.