Man City 2 Man United 3: This was a special one, says Sir Alex Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson reflected on a “special” victory after watching his Manchester United side end Manchester City’s unbeaten run and stretch their lead at the top of the table to six points.

A clinical first-half brace from Wayne Rooney put United ahead going into the break as Ferguson’s league leaders dominated proceedings at Eastlands.

United were furious in the second half after Ashley Young was adjudged to have been offside when turned the ball home after Robin van Persie’s shot had hit the post, as replays showed the England winger to be onside.

Manchester City then halved the deficit moments later when Yaya Toure swept his shot home on the hour-mark, before Pablo Zabaleta drilled home a leveller.

However, it was United who had the final say, when Van Persie’s stoppage-time free-kick beat Joe Hart courtesy of a deflection off Samir Nasri in the City wall to condemn Roberto Mancini’s men to their first league defeat of the season.

“We’ve done it in the past against City of course, but today was a special one simply because they haven’t lost at home for two years and both of us are contending for the league,” Ferguson told Sky Sports. “It was a fantastic game, you couldn’t take your eyes off it.

“Absolutely [we were worthy winners]. I think we played very well. We should have finished the game off. It’s a funny game, football. Instead of it being 3-0, with our goal perfectly onside, they go down the other end and score. Football can kick you in the teeth that way.

“Then they scored a second goal and at that moment in time they deserved that, they were fighting like hell. But up to that point I thought we were far better than them.”