United turn up the volume

Posted Sunday, September 20, 2009 by PA

Manchester United silenced their "noisy neighbour" for a few hours at least after Michael Owen settled a seven-goal derby thriller in the sixth minute of stoppage time at Old Trafford.

After a summer investment exceeding #120million and four successive wins to start their Premier League campaign, City had turned this latest confrontation between Manchester's old rivals into the most eagerly-awaited for years.

And the performance more than matched the billing, with United taking the lead on three occasions, only to present City with an equaliser before Owen provided a dramatic final twist.

"Sometimes you have a noisy neighbour. You cannot do anything about that. They will always be noisy," declared Ferguson.

"You just have to get on with your life, put your television on and turn it up a bit louder.

"The players showed their form. That is the best answer of all."

Despite the remarkable scoreline, Ferguson was in no doubt United deserved their victory.

Shay Given made a series of magnificent second-half saves, denying Dimitar Berbatov on three occasions, which the United manager felt would have given the scoreline a more appropriate look.

"We could have had six or seven today," he said.

The United manager did add that United might also have lost thanks to their abysmal defending.

The weaknesses were apparent in the first-half, when the hosts were coasting thanks to Wayne Rooney's second-minute effort.

There was certainly no explanation for Ben Foster's decision to let Joleon Lescott's long ball run into his area.

With Carlos Tevez charging in, Foster eventually took drastic action, only to get robbed by the Argentinian before he could dive on it.

Tevez promptly fed Gareth Barry, who swept home leveller number one.

Craig Bellamy then scored twice in response to a Darren Fletcher double, the last of which came in the final minute, not that long after the Scot had put United ahead for a third time.

On the latter occasion, Rio Ferdinand was the man to blame, attempting a casual chip over the City defence which instead went straight to Barry who set Bellamy off on a 60-yard run which ended in a goal, with Foster's role again questionable.

"The fact we made those mistakes probably made it the best derby game of all time," he said.

"What would you rather have, a 6-0 win or the greatest derby of all time? I would prefer to win 6-0."

With all the talk centring on Tevez, who hit the post in the final minute of the first-half, Owen had been totally ignored in the build-up.

In the end though, it was his calmness in front of goal that proved decisive.

"Michael was only on for something like 17 minutes," said Ferguson.

"He was the best man to be on there when the game is going to be in their penalty box. There is no-one better at taking chances.

"His positional play, first touch and finish were absolutely superb. World class."

City boss Mark Hughes was upset with the amount of stoppage time awarded by Martin Atkinson.

A minimum of four minutes was signalled by fourth official Alan Wiley, with Owen scoring nearly 90 seconds after that time was up.

"In the end we feel really frustrated and, if it is not too strong a word, robbed because the ref has played seven minutes," Hughes said.

"Alan Wiley tried to explain he added the time for our celebration but I looked at the video and that lasted 45 seconds.

"Where he has got the seven mnutes from I have no idea. We're desperately disappointed because I felt we deserved something."

Sky Sports cameras picked up an incident between Bellamy and a fan, with suggestions the City striker pushed the supporter in the face.

"I'm sure people will make a nuisance about that," Hughes added.

"I seem to recall Brian Clough clipping someone around the ear and he was lauded as a national hero. Maybe it will be the same case with Craig but I doubt it."