With City playing for the title at home to United on Saturday, we look back at meetings memorable for more than local pride
In a season that finished with Everton winning the title, both Manchester clubs were mired in relegation trouble and met at Maine Road for a derby that could scarcely have had more at stake for the 52,424 present. City, a goal up and looking good for the win, conceded a needless equaliser when Dave Wagstaffe’s backpass was intercepted by Denis Law, prompting the goalkeeper, Harry Dowd, to bring the United forward to ground in the penalty area. Albert Quixall scored from the spot, earning United a point that helped them stay up, while City ended up two places below them and were relegated. United went on to win that season’s FA Cup, their first major trophy since the Munich air disaster five years previously. City remained in the Second Division for three years until they were marched out as champions by Joe Mercer.
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