On This Day – A Manchester City Flashback

It seems the fixture computer likes to pitch us against certain teams, as five matches on this day have been against Arsenal or United. Here's today's Flashback.

2016

On 10th September 2016, New City boss Pep Guardiola entered his first Manchester derby as his City side took on United at Old Trafford. The Spaniard had held the upper hand against Jose Mourinho from their time managing Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively and the clash was eagerly anticipated.

It took City just fifteen minutes to open the scoring. Kevin de Bruyne raced through to slot past de Gea in the United goal, and Kelechi Iheanacho doubled the score on 26 with a left foot finish.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic pulled a goal back three minutes before the break to make it 2-1. That was the way a bad tempered match finished as four United and two City players ended up in the referee’s notebook.

2005

This date in 2005 again saw the blues in action at Old Trafford as Sir Alex Ferguson faced off against City’s rookie manager Stuart Pearce. Most expected United to win comfortable, but they had to wait until the stroke if half time to take the lead through Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The blues had other ideas though and with 14 minutes remaining, Joey Barton silenced the United crowd with the equaliser to secure a point for the blues.

1995

On 10th September 1995, Alan Ball’s struggling blues faced Arsenal at Maine Road. City had lost three out of their four opening games as the Gunners arrived in town and three soon became four.

Ian Wright scored the only goal of the game as Arsenal once again walked away from Maine Road with the points. The blues would go on to lose five out of their next six matches, scoring one goal and conceding fourteen.

1977

Once again, it was derby day in Manchester on this day in 1977 as Tony Book’s blues, containing legends such as Joe Corrigan, Brian Kidd and Peter Barnes, welcomed Dave Sexton’s United, with Alex Stepney, Lou Macari and future, albeit brief City boss Steve Coppell amongst their ranks.

Brian Kidd gave City a first half lead, only to have it cancelled out in the second half by Jimmy Nicholl. Kidd put City back in front with his second of the game and Mick Channon secured the points with a third.

1966

On this day in 1966, City’s newly promoted side faced Arsenal at Maine Road. Joe Mercer had guided the blues back to the top flight and won two of their first three matches. But successive defeats at Liverpool and Villa, together with a home battering by West Ham had put a halt to the blue surge.

Glyn Pardoe opened the scoring for City, which looked like stopping the rot, but Jon Sammels equalised for the Gunners. The losing run stopped, but the blues would only win 1 in the next five games, losing the other four.