Kompany lands knockout blow

Vincent Kompany, the blue collar, defensive heartbeat at the centre of Manchester City’s extravagant galaxy of attacking superstars, scored the goal that settled this eagerly-awaited derby and brought his club to the brink of their first title in 44 years.

His set-piece header lifted City to first place in the Premier League, level on points but with an advantage of eight in the goal difference column, with only two games remaining.

The Belgian defender could hardly contain himself last night. Asked about his emotions after completed a famous league double over United, Kompany said: “Absolutely buzzing. We’ve been waiting for this moment.

“It’s far from over but to give our fans two wins over United this season... we have to finish it off and we have to do it over the next two games.

“For us to get this result, we wanted it so bad. It all comes down to the dream we had when we were children, and we all want it so much.”

Manager Roberto Mancini will doubtless maintain his stubborn insistence that the 19-time champions remain title favourites but City now need only shadow United’s results the rest of the way to depose them.

The importance of the occasion was evident in the way that Mancini and Alex Ferguson exchanged angry words on the touchline following a second-half foul by Nigel de Jong on Danny Welbeck but, on an evening when Kompany made up for his controversial red card collected against United in the FA Cup earlier this season, there was little attacking quality to match such emotion and drama.

Kompany struck in first half injury-time, a late but just reward for an opening period which Mancini’s team had largely dominated. David Silva’s right-wing corner should have been cleared, but, with the recalled Chris Smalling ball watching, the leaping City defender reached the ball first and guided it past David de Gea.

Although chances had been scarce, City threatened to take control of the self-styled most important derby game in English football history.

The slick passing that has picked apart so many teams this season, particularly at the Etihad, caused United concern but, until he was required to pick the ball from the back of his goal, De Gea had not been seriously tested.

Ferguson, mindful of the occasion and recent capitulations against Everton and Wigan, recalled the experienced Ryan Giggs and Ji-Sung Park, while bringing Chris Smalling and Phil Jones into the back four.

It appeared a bold gamble but one which also looked to be working as City made a nervy start, the usually reliable Joe Hart flapping at an early Nani cross for Michael Carrick to see a shot blocked by Kompany.

Kompany also blocked, far more comfortably this time, from a Smalling header but they were rare first-half concerns for City whose biggest problem was a harsh 18th-minute caution for Kompany from Andre Marriner for a challenge on Wayne Rooney.

Instead, as the half wore on, City prodded and probed against the champions, Jones being required to make a timely clearance as Samir Nasri’s cross flew across a vacant six-yard box and a mistimed Rooney clearance allowing Sergio Aguero to flash a volley over from 15 yards.

Nasri, increasingly impressive down the right, capped a good run with a cross which Aguero just failed to control and Pablo Zabaleta sent a weak shot into the grasp of de Gea before Carlos Tevez and Yaya Toure sparked a counter-attack for an Aguero shot which won City one of their six first-half corners.

City had gone on to win 16 of the 17 league games in which they had held a first-half lead this season, adding to the omens against United and their veteran manager, who was presumably second guessing his decision to start with the ineffective Park and Giggs.

Despite Ferguson resisting the temptation to make changes, United started the second period in marginally better attacking form, a Nasri shot being fumbled at his near post by Hart to gift the Reds their second corner in quick succession.

Those set-pieces failed to deliver and, by the 57th minute and a Nasri shot which flew wide of the post from 15 yards, Ferguson had seen enough and brought on Welbeck to replace Park, in a more attacking formation.

A cross from Yaya Toure and a Jones centre, at the other end, offered both sets of increasingly nervy supporters glimmers of hope but chances remained at a premium.

Mancini wished to ensure the status quo remained and brought on the defensive midfielder De Jong after 67 minutes, taking off Tevez who, in keeping with most other attackers on display, endured a subdued evening.

Yaya Toure sought a killer second goal with a 20-yard shot which flew wide of de Gea’s left-hand post but, while such chances were few, there was no lack of emotion, as the benches proved with their reaction to de Jong’s foul on Welbeck.

Moments later, when Carrick became the game’s fifth booking for a crude lunge at Gareth Barry, Mancini and Ferguson at least remained fixed in their seats.

Again, Toure strode forward, as the game entered its concluding 10 minutes, switching to his left foot on the edge of the area before once more sending a long-range shot just the wrong side of United’s post.

Ferguson piled on attacking players — Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young — Mancini responded predictably, defender Micah Richards coming on in place of a striker as the tactical chess match continued.

But it was not an evening when the hundreds of millions of pounds worth of attacking talent would shine — left-back Gale Clichy proving the point when he was denied by de Gea’s 87th minute save before Nasri tried to walk a late chance into the net before being crowded out by three defenders.

Subs for Man City: De Jong for Tevez 67, Richards for Silva 82, Milner for Nasri.

Subs for Man United: Welbeck for Park 57, Valencia for Scholes 77, Young for Nani 82.