City almost snatch Manchester derby

Manchester United 1 Manchester City 1

Manchester United old boy Andy Cole came agonisingly close to helping City to a first derby success in 31 years at Old Trafford.

Joey Barton’s 76th-minute leveller had pegged United back after Ruud van Nistelrooy had put the hosts in front in controversial fashion just before the break.

But, after Ryan Giggs had nearly steered home a Wayne Rooney cross, Cole latched onto Trevor Sinclair’s low cross and only a superb save from Edwin van der Sar kept it out.

Rooney seized on the second of two half clearances by Heinze, darting 80 yards downfield before sending Van Nistelrooy scurrying into the area.

Mills closed the Dutchman down at the expense of a corner, which the hosts wasted but the incident triggered a double substitution which saw Mills and Musampa replaced by Sun Jihai and Antoine Sibierski.

As the changes were being made, Rooney responded to the abusive chants of the visiting fans with a few gestures of his own, which went down well with the home supporters even if they were probably better not being made at all.

Rooney soon had nothing to smile about anyway as, 15 minutes from time, City drew level.

Just as James’ heroics went unrewarded earlier, so Van der Sar’s reaction save from Cole’s strike proved in vain as Vassell blasted the rebound towards goal, where Barton flicked it in.

The goal prompted Ferguson to introduce Keane and Giggs before Fowler was called upon to take over striking duties from Vassell.

Giggs was an inch away from nodding a delicate Rooney cross home a minute from time but it was City who came closest to snatching victory when Cole met Sinclair’s cut back perfectly but Van der Sar somehow kept it out.