Sergio Aguero came off the bench to grab Manchester City a 2-1 win against rivals United at Old Trafford and close the gap at the top of the Premier League to 12 points.
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James Milner had put the visitors ahead with a deflected effort straight after halftime before Vincent Kompany's own goal levelled it up for the home side.
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However, Aguero replaced Samir Nasri before firing in at the near post with 11 minutes remaining to claim the three points and move City closer to leaders United.
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When these sides met almost twelve months ago at the Etihad Stadium, United were on the slide and City's win catapulted them into the lead in the title race that ended in dramatic fashion on the last day.
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This season's race seems rather more mundane with United coming into this Old Trafford clash with a 15- point lead and very close to claiming their 20th English league title, but this result may just spark some nerves in Alex Ferguson's camp.
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City coach Roberto Mancini insisted the title was still gone, though.
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"This win was important for us for the second position but this shows that we did not deserve to be 15 points behind. The title is finished," he said.
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For Ferguson it was merely a customary blip on the rocky road to championship glory.
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"We won't be relaxing," he said. "If you look at the history of the club we always make it difficult for ourselves.
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"We put supporters on the edge of their seats every year. The only other plus point is that there are only seven games left now."
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The game got off to a blistering start and after James Milner's early shot was turned away by Rafael at the near post, it was Robin Van Persie who worked the first real opening but his low shot slid across the slick surface wide of the post.
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In an open game, City pressed forward themselves and a well-placed pass from Kompany found David Silva in the area, the Spaniard playing a first-time cross for Carlos Tevez only for Phil Jones to get across just in time to block the Blues' striker.
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The visitors had the next chance but Nasri snatched at the ball inside the area after it fell kindly to the Frenchman and it went harmlessly wide.
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United, who were without Nemanja Vidic, were defending well and they almost hit on the counter attack but Ashley Young failed to get his cross into the area with Van Persie waiting.
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Just before the break, Rafael almost opened the scoring by fluke when he stuck a foot out but the ball looped up onto Joe Hart's crossbar.
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City were aggrieved when referee Mike Dean blew for the break when they were attacking but they were in front soon after the restart following a rare error from veteran Ryan Giggs.