Wayne slams the door on City

MAN UTD 2, MAN CITY 1

Wayne Rooney provided the most astounding finale to a Manchester derby – then told United's ecstatic fans: "I owe you that."

There is no superlative that can do justice to the way Rooney spun round, manipulated his body four feet into the air, then connected with Nani's cross with such power that City goalkeeper Joe Hart never had chance to move before it flashed into the top corner of his goal.

It will be replayed many years from now: the goal of the season prize might as well be sent to Old Trafford right now.

But given Rooney's tepid form since he suffered the first of a succession of ankle injuries in Munich last March, the 25–year–old accepts there was an element of payback as well.

"The Manchester United fans deserve that from me," he said.

"I haven't had the best of seasons and I know how big this game is in Manchester, so I hope they enjoyed that. Now the aim is to keep scoring and help us get that title back."

In that regard, Rooney was somewhat more forceful than Sir Alex Ferguson.

Unlike his manager, who has spent the last few months emphasising just how crazy this season has been and is presumably far too experienced to take anything for granted, Rooney was prepared to look at United's imposing eight–point lead over their neighbours, check they also have a game in hand in a season which, for them, has 12 hurdles left, and discount them from the battle.

"It almost certainly rules City out of the title race unless a disaster happens," he said.

For City, it was agony. The gap to United, which for so many years was a yawning chasm, has closed dramatically.

But they can’t take that final step to bridge it completely.

They have collected a single point from two league meetings this season when the difference between the sides has been wafer thin.

Little wonder Blues legend Mike Summerbee grew increasingly indignant in his role as a Sky Sports pundit as the post–match analysis concentrated on where United had gained the crucial edge.

"One day Manchester City will come here and take them," he said.

There was a mixture of bitterness and resignation in Summerbee's voice, born of spending so long in the Red Devils shadow, a place, for this season at least, they are destined to remain.

"I don't think they were that unlucky," continued Rooney.

"Other than the Silva chance in the first half, they didn't really have a clear chance. We had two or three.”

Had David Silva converted the third-minute opportunity given to him by Carlos Tevez, the outcome may have been different.

The Blues looked the team more likely to claim victory once Edin Dzeko's effort had bounced in off Silva's back to level Nani's first–half opener.

Rooney had other ideas, with a goal even Ferguson struggled to describe.

"All the talk will be about the winner, and quite rightly so, because I have never seen a goal like that in my life," he said. "It was absolutely magnificent."