Derby Day Episode 2

Who would've thought hey?... that "A year is a long time in football". Last year April Manicni was celebrating beating Manchester United and subsequently putting City 5 points clear at the top of the league.

This April its quite the turn around, Manchester United are now 15 points clear and the English Premier League (EPL) is all but sawn up. No team needs any motivation for this fixture and the mind games have hit a crescendo with Mancini claiming "Manchester United don't deserve to be 15 points clear" and Sir Alex retort "We deserve to be 15 points ahead". If anyone doubts the importance of this Derby those comments tell that, even with United so far ahead, no manager wants to lose tonight.

The memory of the last time the Citizen visited Old Trafford is still fresh in both camps but credit to Mancini for saying :"Six-one is in the history now," because as we all know "anything can happen in EPL and it usually does." Ferguson on the other hand steered away from it: "I've never watched that game again. Why would I? I'm not into self-flagellation." You can be sure without mentioning it (acccording to Gary Neville Sir Alex will not dwell on it nor remind his players about it) each United player will be well aware of that capitulation at the hands of their noisey neighbours.

Stats

Manchester United will strive to make it their 70th victory over City in their 165th meeting, interestingly enough 50 draws (watch this space).
Manchester City topped both the defensive and goalscoring charts on their way to the title last season, with Manchester United second in both categories. This time around, while City again have the best defensive record in the division (26 conceded), they are fifth in the goal scoring table (55 scored). United have scored the most goals (70) and have the second best defensive record (31 conceded).
Manchester United and Manchester City are two of the three teams yet to lose in the Premier League this season when they have taken the lead. Arsenal are the other.
United have won 27 points from losing positions this season, more than any other side in the Premier League.

In conclusion just like my belief that no team will win 10 EPL games in a row again I do feel Robin van Persie will not go 10 EPL games in a row without a goal. Only Sir Alex Treble winners did that in 98 and for that matter the "Invincibles" couldn't achieve it. Pictures sourced by twitter followers and stats by bcc sports.

So Manchester is red and tonight we will show why, it wont be pretty but as this season can detest it will be effective.

Jade Christopher Bentley Adams (@JCBA)

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