Struggle for supremacy is nothing new...
With City and United vying for top spot in the Premier League this season, Nostalgia looks back to 1968 when the two clubs were locked in a similar struggle – and remembers some momentous matches between the red and blue rivals
LOCAL derbies have always been hard-fought affairs between City and United – but none more so than the First Division clash at Old Trafford on March 27, 1968.
Both teams were in the hunt for the title.
Just four days earlier, City had been beaten by Leeds who were in top position over United on goal difference.
United and Leeds had 45 points, City 43. City simply had to win. But it didn’t start well for the visitors.
George Best scored after just 38 seconds to send the 63,000 crowd wild. The celebrations were short-lived. City fought back superbly with goals from Colin Bell, Francis Lee and George Heslop to earn a 1-3 victory.
United forwards Denis Law and George Best caused consternation in the City penalty area, but to no avail. The Blues were back on track. It was cat and mouse between the two clubs right up to May 11 and the final game of the season.
The league title was going to the wire!
City and United were level on 56 points, though City had the better goal average.
Breathing down their necks with 53 points – and a game in hand – were Liverpool. City were away to Newcastle at St James’s Park. The Magpies were smarting from a 6-0 hammering by United at Old Trafford the previous week.
United were at home to Sunderland, while Liverpool were at home to Nottingham Forest.
Mike Summerbee struck for City in the 13th minute, but Newcastle quickly levelled through Bryan Robson.
Neil Young made it 2-1 to City and had another goal disallowed for offside.
Newcastle came back through Jackie Sinclair and the score was level at half time.
Goals from Young and Lee gave City a 4-2 lead.
Newcastle again fought back with a goal from John McNamee, but City held on for a 4-3 win.
It was a different story at Old Trafford as the Wearsiders pulled off a shock 2-1 victory.
Liverpool hammered Forest 6-1, but it counted for nothing as they lost their game in hand to Stoke 1-2.
City were champions for the first time since 1937 with 58 points and United were second with 56.
Our image shows City players George Heslop and Colin Bell celebrating their achievement.
Fast forward to December 17, 1969, and Bell is injured ahead of the League Cup semi-final second leg against United.
He’s pictured at Old Trafford staring longingly at the pitch, his arm in a sling.
City won the first leg at Maine Road 2-1 with goals from Bell and Lee.
Bobby Charlton scored for United. The second leg was a tighter affair ending in a 2-2 draw.
United’s scorers were Law and Paul Edwards, with City’s goals coming from Summerbee and Ian Bowyer. City went on to win the League Cup.
Goalkeeper Joe Corrigan, pictured leaping for a high ball in training, played for City in both games.
United played City three more times in the 1969-70 season.
They knocked their rivals out of the FA Cup 3-0 in the Fourth Round in January after losing 4-0 in the league match at Maine Road in November.
City triumphed again in March when they beat United 2-1 in the league at Old Trafford.
Brian Kidd scored for United; Lee and Mike Doyle netted for City.
One of the biggest local derbies between City and United took place on Saturday, April 27, 1974, in front of 56,996 anxious fans at Old Trafford.
At stake that day was United’s survival in the First Division. Paddy Crerand and United manager Tommy Docherty looked on nervously as the action started.
It was Docherty’s first season in charge having taken over the reins from Frank O’Farrell in December.
United were without the troubled George Best, who had returned briefly after walking out the previous season.
He played his last game for the club on New Year’s Day.
To avoid relegation, United had to win and both West Ham and Birmingham City had to lose.
The match was predictably close. But with just eight minutes left, Denis Law backheeled it past Alex Stepney to score the only goal of the game.
M.E.N. photographer John Fowler captured the moment.
As the ball nestles in the corner of the net, there is no celebration from the former Old Trafford idol.
Law knows he’s hammered a nail in the coffin of his former team-mates.
The fans could bear it no longer. Hundreds invaded the pitch and surrounded the players.
Referee David Smith had no alternative but to abandon the match.
If the fans thought their invasion would help the club, they were wrong.
Both West Ham and Birmingham won their games and, on May 3, the