Archivist: The Manchester derby, Old Trafford, 1968

Manchester United v Manchester City, Old Trafford, March 1968: United artist George Best takes control of a loose ball.

Photo: PA (Click to supersize)

Notes

City won this match 3-1, a huge victory that turned the title race in their favour. They held off stiff challenges from United and Liverpool to win the league by two points:

1. Man City 58pts
2. Man Utd 56pts
3. Liverpool 55pts
4. Leeds United 53pts
5. Everton 52pts

Four sides within six points of the champions, who triumphed despite losing 10 (ten) games that season. Oh, the Premier League is a disgraceful oligarchy.

United’s consolation came a couple of weeks after the domestic season finished, when they tonked Benfica in the European Cup final at Wembley.

High on the ’68 title, Malcolm Allison claimed that City would win the European Cup in 1969 – they lost to Fenerbahce in the first round. Typical.