City deal blow to United title hopes in hard-fought draw

FT Manchester United 0 Manchester City 0

Alan Smith was sent off two minutes from time as Manchester United’s Premiership title hopes suffered another shattering blow against Manchester City at Old Trafford.

After Stephen Jordan had cleared Louis Saha’s early effort off the line, Ryan Giggs wasted United’s best hope of adding to the Red Devils’ paltry 11-goal league tally when he blazed wide after being sent clean through midway through the second half.

But if the result, which leaves Sir Alex Ferguson’s side 11 points adrift of leaders Chelsea, was not bad enough, the loss of Smith, for two bookable offences, late on, just heaped on the misery.

Saha provided Giggs with the best chance of the match when he set the Welshman clean through midway through the second period. The winger beat James with a firm shot, but also the keeper’s right-hand post as City survived again.

The appearance of Robbie Fowler warming up by the touchline, waving four fingers to signify Liverpool’s European Cup triumphs, did not do much to improve the humour of the home fans, although Rooney’s arrival for Scholes 14 minutes from time did.

Flood was booked for a foul on Heinze and Distin nodded a Giggs corner behind as United’s struggles continued and with no sign of a goal, their afternoon got even worse when Smith was sent off for a second booking after leaving his foot in on Dunne.