CDERBIY TTHRILYL 3-1 LEAD VANISH..
THE Etihad stadium today stages the 188th derby between City and United.
But, of the previous 187 games, few can match the clash at Maine Road in October 1990 for drama.
City were relieved to escape with a point – after leading 3-1, with nine minutes left.
The previous season, City had romped to a 5-1 win at Maine Road and 26 minutes into this clash, the home fans were demanding a repeat.
The chant was, “We want five!” after City stormed into a 2-0 lead in front of 36,427 fans.
This was a United of Gary Pallister, Paul Ince and Mark Hughes, who had five months earlier won their first trophy under Alex Ferguson, the FA Cup (below).
They headed to Maine Road having suffered back-to-back defeats and for the opening 26 minutes, they could not live with Howard Kendall’s City, inspired by a 34-year-old Peter Reid.
First, Mark Ward hooked over a cross that everyone miskicked – apart from David White. He scooped a shot just inside Les Sealey’s right-hand post and the blue half of Manchester erupted.
The lead was doubled when Steve Redmond’s pass was nudged on by Adrian Heath, sending White clear to find the net.
But United halved the arrears before the break, Mark Hughes powering home a header.
After the break, the outstanding Reid went close and White sent a header against the bar before Colin Hendry scored in the 79th minute.
The Scottish defender looked up when he reached the penalty area, saw Niall Quinn and they exchanged passes before Hendry produced an ice-cool finish for 3-1.
The job appeared to be done for City and man-of-the-match Reid was replaced by Ian Brightwell.
He had only been for a minute when Brian McClair dispossessed him and raced through to score.
That left United eight minutes to find an equaliser and when they won a corner, Neil Webb knew what to do.
He swung the ball towards Steve Bruce on the edge of the penalty area and he headed powerfully goalwards.
The ball was inches from City keeper Tony Coton’s hands when McClair changed its path with a twist of his neck – and United levelled it.