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Sir Alex Ferguson's first game in the away dugout at Maine Road ended in a 5-1 Manchester City victory and David Moyes nearly matched that ignominious outcome in his first derby as United manager on Sunday.
Ferguson lost by margins of one to five against the Blues, with his "worst ever" defeat coming in The 6-1 two years ago next month.
It is testament to how chastening the trouncings of his era were that the 6-1 is arguably not even in his top three worst losses to City, who, when they beat United, usually do so convincingly.
Fergie's defeats to City
5-1, 1989(01 of11)
Ian Bishop and Paul Lake celebrate during City's 5-1 rout of United in September 1989, a result which caused more Reds to turn against Alex Ferguson.“Believe me,” Ferguson said following the humiliation. “What I have felt in the last week you wouldn’t think should happen in football.” (credit:PA)
3-1, 2002(02 of11)
United had not lost to City since the 5-1 hammering 13 years earlier but in the final derby at Maine Road they were out-muscled by Kevin Keegan's City.Nicolas Anelka opened the scoring and though Ole Gunnar Solskjaer levelled, Gary Neville gifted Shaun Goater a goal. Goater wrapped up the scoring in the second period and John O'Shea missed an open goal.Neville didn't play in the league again for nearly a month (credit:Getty)
4-1, 2004(03 of11)
Days after heartbreaking elimination to José Mourinho's Porto in the Champions League, a despondent United's Premier League campaign worsened at their neighbours. Former Red Jonathan Macken, a goading Robbie Fowler, City fan Trevor Sinclair and Shaun Wright-Phillips piled on the misery for the Reds. (credit:Getty)
3-1, 2006(04 of11)
Best remembered for Patrice Evra's United debut, United were 2-0 down at half-time and the Frenchman was hauled off.Cristiano Ronaldo also departed after receiving a red card and though Ruud van Nistelrooy struck, Scouser Fowler ended the contest. (credit:PA)
1-0, 2007(05 of11)
United pummelled a City side that successfully clung onto Geovanni's deflected strike. Micah Richards was impregnable, City went top and United were still winless after three games. (credit:PA)
2-1, 2008(06 of11)
On the day United remembered the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster they delivered one of their nerviest and gutless performances under Ferguson. City were 2-0 up at half-time through Darius Vassell and Benjani's goals and the final score flattered a demoralised United.It was City's first win at Old Trafford since Denis Law's backheel in 1974. (credit:Getty)
2-1, 2010(07 of11)
Mike Dean's dubious decisions helped City to a slender League Cup semi-final first leg win on a cacophonous night at Eastlands. Tevez came back to haunt United, bagging both of City's goals, however a 3-1 Reds victory at Old Trafford extended City's trophyless stretch to 35 years. (credit:Alex Livesey via Getty Images)
1-0, 2011(08 of11)
The game which effectively signalled the end of Dimitar Berbatov's United career and sparked City's silverware success, United dominated the first half of the FA Cup semi-final but, bereft of an in-form Wayne Rooney, were profligate. Berbatov missed two great chances.Early in the second 45 Michael Carrick was caught napping and Yaya Touré scored the most cherished derby goal for City fans since Hinchcliffe's fifth in '89. Paul Scholes was sent off and City held on to reach the final. (credit:Getty Images)
6-1, 2011(09 of11)
"It was our worst ever day," Ferguson said. "It's the worst result in my history, ever. Even as a player I don't think I ever lost 6-1."United were actually the superior side in the first 45, despite Mario Balotelli's goal, but Jonny Evans' dimwitted tug at Balotelli's shirt in the early stages of the second-half reduced United to 10 men and the goal glut began.Balotelli doubled the lead and Sergio Agüero made it three, but Darren Fletcher reduced the arrears. That was the worst thing that could happen to United, who neglected to defend and City scored three more in the last five minutes through Joleon Lescott, David Silva and Edin Džeko (credit:Getty)
1-0, 2012(10 of11)
With three points separating table-toppers United and second-placed City, the clubs' antepenultimate fixture of the campaign was billed as the biggest in Manchester derby history.Despite the slender scoreline, City were hardly troubled by a defensive United, hindered by peculiar selections by Ferguson. It cost United a title. (credit:Getty)
2-1, 2013(11 of11)
An inconsequential defeat, United were effectively champions and Sergio Agüero's impressive winner was merely a stay of execution for Roberto Mancini's City. (credit:Tom Purslow via Getty Images)
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