A LONG WAIT, THEN DERBY HEARTACHE
IF you are looking for Exhibit A of evidence to show how the Manchester derby has changed, the clash at Maine Road 20 years ago this year tells the tale in more ways than one.
First, United manager Alex Ferguson did not even attend. He had already committed to travelling to South Africa for his son Mark’s wedding on the weekend of November 18, 2000.
And when the fixture list was altered in the weeks beforehand, scheduling the derby for that exact date, Fergie stuck to his guns and made the trip, leaving newly appointed England coach Steve Mcclaren in charge.
“In the build-up to the game, I heard Fergie wasn’t going to be there and I was thinking that it was a sign they were taking us lightly,” recalled Nicky Weaver, City’s then goalkeeper.
“Our boss Joe Royle made a point of bringing it up in his team talk, he mentioned how their manager did not even bother to be there, so that was how lightly they were taking us.
“I suppose Fergie could do what he wanted at that time, he had the stature because of what he achieved, but there would not be too many United managers now taking the weekend of a Manchester derby off.
“We saw it as a great chance to win because of that.”
David Beckham, not long confirmed as new England captain, whipped a humdinger of a freekick into the top corner inside 90 seconds, however, and that killed the momentum for the home fans as they savoured their first derby for four-and-a-half-years.
And it was enough to win the game 1-0. It was the longest wait for the fixture since World War II and you had to go back 15 meetings for City’s last win – a 5-1 trouncing of United in 1989.
“Even in the warm-up, you could sense it was special, the stadium was packed to the rafters an hour before kick-off,” said Weaver.
“At the time, United were the top team in the Premier League. They had won the Champions League the year before and the whole team was littered with class. “I was only 21 at the time and felt we actually did OK in the game – the problem was Beckham scored so early.
“It killed it for us. I had only known good times at City until then because we had two promotions to get back to the Premier League. “There were no scars on me, I suppose, and it was positive.
“That changed a bit then because I remember that Beckham’s free-kick went in my side on the right.
“I should have done better, but Beckham was the best free-kick taker in the world at the time.
“I couldn’t actually see the ball because every time I tried to move Teddy Sheringham moved just a little too. I hopped to my left for a better view and, as I did, Beckham whipped it over my right shoulder and I couldn’t reach.
“It was disappointing from my point of view and it’s only 20 years later that you can smile about it.
“I wasn’t smiling at the time, but at least now I can tell my kids that David Beckham got one past me when he was in his pomp.”
City won just four more times in the rest of the league season after that and suffered relegation while United romped to their third title in a row.
How times have changed.