Manchester City beat Manchester United 1-0, courtesy of a first-half stoppage time header from Vincent Kompany, as they leapfrogged their city rivals in the Premier League.

Skipper Kompany lost his marker, Chris Smalling, at a corner just past the 45 minute mark and nodded powerfully past the helpless David de Gea.

City's half-time lead was as deserved as their full-time lead. Their squad strength and superiority over United was reaffirmed by their pace and power as their visitors wilted.

Ji-Sung Park was substituted for Danny Welbeck early into the second-half, but Sir Alex Ferguson's did not force a save from Citizens stopper Joe Hart throughout the 90 minutes.

A game low on quality, tempers boiled over when Ferguson and City counterpart Roberto Mancini had to be separated on the touchline after a crude challenge by Nigel de Jong on Welbeck.

The pair however shook hands at the end of the game.

City are now level on points with United on 83, but have a superior goal difference (+61) to the Red Devils (+53), with two games remaining.

Mancini's team travel to Champions League-chasing Newcastle on Sunday before United entertain Swansea later on in the day.

United face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on the final day of the campaign while City play former manager Mark Hughes' QPR at the Etihad Stadium.

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• Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Manchester City v Manchester United - Etihad Stadium

  Manchester United's Ryan Giggs (right) and Manchester City's Carlos Tevez battle for the ball

• Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Manchester City v Manchester United - Etihad Stadium

  Former Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra in the stands

• Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Manchester City v Manchester United - Etihad Stadium

  Manchester City's Gareth Barry (left) and Manchester United's Paul Scholes battle for the ball

• Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Manchester City v Manchester United - Etihad Stadium

  Manchester City's David Silva and Manchester United's Michael Carrick (left) battle for the ball

• Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Manchester City v Manchester United - Etihad Stadium

  Manchester United's Wayne Rooney holds his ankle after picking up an injury

• Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Manchester City v Manchester United - Etihad Stadium

  Diego Maradona (centre) watches from the stands

• Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Manchester City v Manchester United - Etihad Stadium

  Manchester City's Vincent Kompany (4th right) rises high to head home the opening goal of thegame

• Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Manchester City v Manchester United - Etihad Stadium

  Manchester City's Vincent Kompany celebrates scoring his teams first goal during the Barclays Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester.

• Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Manchester City v Manchester United - Etihad Stadium

  Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini (left) and manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson argue on the touchline.

• Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Manchester City v Manchester United - Etihad Stadium

  Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini (centre) and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson (left) argue on the touchline.

• Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Manchester City v Manchester United - Etihad Stadium

  Manchester United's Paul Scholes (right) and Manchester City's Gnegneri Toure Yaya battle for the ball

• Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Manchester City v Manchester United - Etihad Stadium

  Manchester City fans do a poznan in the stands

• Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Manchester City v Manchester United - Etihad Stadium

  Manchester United's players walk off dejected after the game

• Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Manchester City v Manchester United - Etihad Stadium

  Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart (right) and Gael Clichy celebrate their side's win after the final whistle