Van der Sar saves United from derby Blues
For one brief moment, when Andy Cole met Trevor Sinclair’s injury-time cut-back with a precision strike, Pearce thought his team had achieved a task which had proved beyond any City side in 25 previous visits to Old Trafford since 1974.
To Pearce - and Cole’s - total disbelief, Van der Sar shot across his goal to make a flying save and preserve United’s dignity if not their 100% record.
Alex Ferguson may have attracted scorn from the Blues faithful over his assertion the final scoreline was “ridiculous.” But it was Pearce who was nearly most embarrassed.
“I thought it was in,” he admitted. “The script was written for Andy to go back to Old Trafford and score the winner and barring a world class save it would have happened. I was ready to storm the pitch but thankfully I managed to get back into the dug-out instead.”
These may be the very early stages of a management career which extends to only 14 Premiership matches but after captaining his country during his playing days, few would bet against the fiercely patriotic Nottingham Forest legend eventually coaching them at some stage as well.
On first evidence, Pearce appears to be everything Sven Goran Eriksson isn’t.
Animated, organised, tactically astute, a fine man-manager and supreme motivator with a sense of humour to boot, the 43-year-old has all the credentials required for the top job.
All he needs now is experience and results - and no-one at City is quibbling in that department.
The Blues are now unbeaten in 13 matches, sit third in the Premiership table and their long-suffering fans are suddenly alive to the prospect of an end to a 29-year wait for a major trophy.
Even the most ardent City supporter would acknowledge a tilt at the league title is an impossible quest but the dream of a cup final victory is real enough.
“Irrespective of results, I am so pleased with the spirit in the camp and the willingness of the players to trust each other,” said Pearce.
Ferguson’s side have known exactly what is expected of them from the moment they were hauled back for pre-season training a week earlier than usual.
Senior figures within the United camp have wasted no opportunity to remind everyone of the need to make a fast start.
The response was an impressive three straight wins and when Ruud van Nistelrooy beat David James at the second attempt in first-half stoppage time, a fourth seemed likely.
Gradually though, City emerged from their bunker and it was not a total surprise when Joey Barton diverted Darius Vassell’s shot through Rio Ferdinand’s legs to bring the visitors level.
Ryan Giggs almost restored the hosts’ lead but it was the Welshman’s old mate Cole who came closest to snatching victory at the death.
Ten points from four games actually represents United’s best start to a Premiership campaign since 1999, when they ended up winning the title by a massive 18 points.
The problem, as Ferguson has continually stressed, is the bar has been raised substantially since then.
Opta Stat: Ruud van Nistelrooy has scored in each of his three Premiership appearances against Manchester City at Old Trafford.
Opta Stat: This is the first times Manchester City have gone five games unbeaten at the start of a Premiership season before.
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