When Manchester City stunned Manchester United 6-1 at Old Trafford on 23rd October 2011, they truly made history. The defeat was United’s worst at home for 56 years and the first time they had conceded six goals on their own turf since 1930. But, more poignantly, the 10-goal swing would ultimately deny United a record 20th top-flight title, and hand City a first in 44 years. Eight goals – and 12...

­Fifteen hundred pounds. That's around 2,500 dollars, 1,800 Euros or 31 times the face value of a top-priced ticket. And that's how much one Manchester United fan declared, live on a British radio station, that he was prepared to pay, amid a global recession, for just one seat at what Sir Alex Ferguson has called the biggest Manchester derby of his career, at the Etihad Stadium on Monday....

­Ahead of Manchester United's return trip to Blackburn on April 3rd, Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini had boldly predicted the outcome would be a draw. And the Italian was 10 minutes short of cashing in, before United did a United and scored two late goals to win 2-0. I wonder how much Mancini has since had to pay – in pride as much as pounds. Yet five months ago, you could have forgiven...

­After a rollercoaster month in England’s top flight, all eyes now turn to Wednesday’s showdown at the Etihad Stadium, where Manchester City host Chelsea in what could prove to be a pivotal game in the Premier League title race. However, all thoughts are with Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba. The 23-year-old had a cardiac arrest and collapsed on the pitch at White Hart Lane during Wanderers’...

­The saying goes that "a week is a long time in politics". Let me give that oft used observation a footballing tweak. " A week is a light year in the English Premier League " would be more than appropriate to describe the last seven days in an increasingly extraordinary season in the top flight – a significant part of it ultimately due to the ramifications of alleged racism. To recap. Wednesday...

­ "It always has an affect when your manager isn't there. Harry Redknapp always provides energy and inspires us, and we have missed him over the past couple of weeks ". So said Tottenham and England midfielder Scott Parker after Spurs' goalless draw at Liverpool on Monday. For every silver lining, there is usually a very dark holiday-bound and rain-filled cloud. And such it must now feel for a...

January: notable in English football for the start of the reverse fixtures, the FA Cup fourth round, the Carling Cup semi-finals, the transfer window (and, to use the old agenda filler, Any Other Business). While their manager Harry Redknapp was preparing to appear in court to answer charges of tax evasion, the second week of 2012 began more auspiciously for Tottenham. After its September...

­The saying goes that revenge is a dish best served cold. And Manchester United went some way to avenging October's humiliating 6-1 home defeat to Manchester City by dumping the ten-man holders out of the FA Cup, on their own turf, in a thrilling third-round bowl of highly chilled gazpacho. Living Old Trafford legend Paul Scholes was back from retirement to help injury-hit United's cause, and...

Picture this: It's Saturday 3rd December. A packed 52,000-capacity St. James' Park. Alan Pardew's high-flying Newcastle are at home to under-pressure Andre Villas-Boas' Chelsea in the lunch-time kick-off. An emotional tribute is paid, as others will be across the nation, to late former midfielder and Wales manager, Gary Speed. The atmosphere is tense, fraught. Then, with 15 minutes gone, the...

­Nothing puts football into perspective faster than the death of one of its finest ambassadors, particularly when he is tragically young. Wales manager, and former midfield star, Gary Speed MBE, was found dead in his home on Sunday morning at the age of 42. Rarely injured or suspended, after making 535 Premier League appearances, winning 85 caps and captaining Wales, the former Leeds, Everton,...