Last gasp Scholes keeps United in the title race as the pressure shifts back to Chelsea

After his injury time winner, man of the match Paul Scholes was asked how much more it meant to get those vital points at the hands of his local rivals. His plain faced reaction said it all; despite all the hype this was just another three points to United. With Chelsea’s London derby against Tottenham still to come it is three vital points to keep the title race alive.

Neither side did enough to fully justify victory here today, but Scholes last minute winner was no fluke. There is a common misconception in football that last minute goals somehow produce unfair results, but it is so often in these final minutes that the great teams separate themselves from the rest. United continued their professional (if slightly underwhelming) performance until the final seconds and there was none more professional today than the goal scorer.

Scholes pulled the strings all day, spraying passes left and right to the wide men and breaking up the ball with his typically hard tackling all game long. It was fitting that Scholes both started and concluded United’s best move of the game, playing the ball wide to the Evra as he used all his experience to sneak into the box unmarked. His injury time header was one of huge determination, stretching back as he used every last once of energy to direct the ball past the helpless Shay Given. Given picked the ball out from the back of the net to the sight of thousands of City fans flooding the exits. It will be a bitter pill to swallow for Roberto Mancini after his keeper was little more than a spectator for the entire second half.

The Italian was visibly angry in his post match interview, rueing his sides missed chances after controlling much of the second half. City looked dangerous with Tevez driving through the middle as Bellamy and Johnson provided pace on the flanks. For all his flaws Adebayor was again vital for City, using his close control to start so many City attacks as he provided his side with a perfect target when they looked to go direct. Mancini’s millionaires came close on several occasions, not least on 87 minutes when Van Der Sar was left stranded as the ball bounced around the area. A vital block from Nedmanja Vidic saved his keepers blushes but City failed to produce any clear cut chances for their front men. If they are to really become a force in English football they must work on their productivity and predatory instinct in the most vital part of the pitch.

That said there were plenty of positives for the Sky Blues today. City were particularly effective down the left flank, as Bellamy and substitute Wright Philips rotated the duties and Bridge overlapped. Adam Johnson was also lively on the right, but was limited to rushed deliveries for most of the game. They also stifled the threat of Rooney, limiting him mainly to service with his back to goal. Despite playing so well however, City must reflect on the reality that they have lost three times to their local rivals this season and still have a long way to go if the balance of power is to shift to the blue city of the city.

The focus now shifts to the London derby as Tottenham host in form Chelsea and the last minute goal at the City of Manchester Stadium will have a huge effect on both sides this evening. United are now just one point behind the leaders and a victory for Tottenham would mean they would leapfrog City into 4th spot with just 4 games to play. The psychological effect of Scholes’ last minute winner is massive as the pressure is undeniably switched back to Chelsea, who must respond if they are to capitalise on their victory at Old Trafford earlier this month. Tottenham enter the derby full of confidence after a run of 6 wins in 7, including their midweek victory over Arsenal. Harry Redknapp would love nothing more than to have another say in this thrilling title race and City’s slip up means the door is open for his gifted Tottenham side to steal the coveted fourth spot in next season’s Champions League. After an unpredictable season marked by fallen champions and emerging powers you sense there’re more twists yet to come in what promises to be a nail biting finish.

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