Vincent Kompany stooped to win Manchester City their second derby of the season against Manchester United in the Premier League last night.
Most crucially though, he nodded in the goal to give the Blues the advantage in the title race. City's superior goal difference puts them ahead of United with both teams on 83 points.
Just two rounds of fixtures remain this season, with City travelling to Newcastle and hosting QPR, while United entertain Swansea and play at Sunderland as the Blues hone in on a first title in 44 years.
Here's five things learnt from Monday night's title clash:
SUPERIOR CITY
If United's 3-2 Community Shield success was a friendly, City's 6-1 league win a fluke aided by Jonny Evans' sending off and the Reds' 3-2 victory in the FA Cup distorting due to Kompany's dismissal, Monday night confirmed City's superiority. Only a handful of United players would improve Roberto Mancini's team, but even Wayne Rooney and Nani choked within Eastlands' buzzing atmosphere. The injured Nemanja Vidic could only look on from the sidelines as his team-mates defended feebly from another set-piece, but the hosts bore all the hallmarks of champions whereas their visitors played like a side whose position belies their true quality.
FERGUSON ACKNOWLEDGES INFERIORITY
In the 6-1, Sir Alex Ferguson's two in midfield ploy with the indiscipline of Anderson and Darren Fletcher, was a porous choice. So while the trio central selection on Monday night was correct, it was the personnel that was incorrect. Ji-Sung Park was drafted in presumably as the man to try and break up City's play, but instead he was deployed as an attacker - at the expense of Antonio Valencia. Irrespective of what the Scot said, United played in the hope of gaining a draw, and although City's winner came with 50 more minutes (eventually) left to play, it felt like it would be the winner at the time.
UNITED'S APPROACH IS JURASSIC
Both Barcelona and Real Madrid press opponents as if their life depended on it. City do this too as they emerge into a better side, but their neighbours rarely - if ever - harass teams. Ferguson drilled his XI to sit back and remain regimented, as if he hoped the Citizens would make an error which United could capitalise upon and break away. The two caveats in this theory were that 1. City were very good at retaining the ball and 2. United did not have the pace or personnel in attack to expose them.
YAYA TOURE MAKES CITY TICK
Ridiculed when he arrived in England because of his wages (£250,000 per week), it is difficult to think of a team the younger Toure would not improve. Yaya's surges forward took United - brittle anyway - aback time and again, and it wasn't until the muscular presence of Antonio Valencia arrived that someone got the better of him. Toure's absence in games has been felt this season: unavailable for the losses to United in the cup and Everton in the league, his early withdrawal against Arsenal last month was chiefly responsible for City getting overrun and losing that day too. Although David Silva offers silk, Toure boasts that and steel in equal and devastating measure.
PREMIER LEAGUE "BRAND" SUFFERS
The hype was justified considering the magnitude and possible ramifications of this game, but the spectacle was an inevitable letdown. Seventeen goals had been scored in the season's three previous Manchester derbies, but United's negativity, coupled with City's comfort when ahead, ensured a low-scoring game.
It has been an entertaining campaign in England's top-tier, but the money moment from Monday's Manc match was not on the pitch, but off it. Ferguson and Mancini's pleasantries finally ended as the Scot finally saw the red mist just as the blue moon rose.
