City win emotional Manchester derby

Manchester City completed a league double over Manchester United on the day the city remembered the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster.

The last time City achieved such a feat was back in 1970 and the last time they won here was four years later.

Darius Vassell put City ahead in the 24th minute and Benjani Mwaruwari, on his debut following a protracted move from Portsmouth, headed the second. United replied with an injury-time goal from Michael Carrick but City held on.

Earlier a capacity crowd respected the minute's silence in memory of the Munich air disaster.

United and City fans raised their commemorative scarves around the ground and stood in tribute to the 23 people, including eight United players, who died in the air crash 50 years ago on Wednesday.

But during the minute's silence, what appeared to be loud bangs were heard coming from outside the stadium.

Injured United captain Gary Neville, watching from the stands, appeared visibly shocked at the intrusion.

Both United midfielder Paul Scholes and City manager Sven Goran Eriksson had appealed to City fans to respect those lost in the 1958 tragedy during the build up to the game.

Survivors of the tragedy were among the crowd at Old Trafford.

Both clubs wore special plain kits for the match and United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and Eriksson placed wreaths in the centre spot ahead of the period of silence.

Meanwhile, third placed Chelsea failed to close the gap on United after Liverpool held them to a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge.

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