The first Manchester derby of the season was certainly one to remember as United opened up a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a last-gasp victory.

Wayne Rooney netted a first-half brace to give the Red Devils a daunting lead but City came out fighting after the interval and managed to pull it back with goals from Yaya Toure and Pablo Zabaleta.

However, United were to have the last laugh as they silenced their noisy neighbours in the 92nd minute when Robin van Persie's free kick took a slight touch off the flinching Samir Nasri to beat Joe Hart and send the visiting fans into raptures.

Here, Sports Mole analyses a memorable 90 minutes at the Etihad.

Match statistics:

City:
Shots 16
On target 11
Possession 53%
Corners 8
Fouls 11

United:
Shots 8
On target 3
Possession 47%
Corners 2
Fouls 9

Was the result fair?

Tough question. City began the game on top and were the far better side in the first 15 minutes but were hit on the counter by United. The Red Devils went on to net a second as United dominated the remainder of the opening half. City, however, came out fighting after the break and were buoyed after Toure's equaliser. They looked destined to bag a leveller and duly did when Zabaleta smashed home. Going into the final few minutes another goal looked on the cards and it could have gone to either side.

City's performance

A real mixed bag for the hosts. They held the ball extremely well early on but were undone by United's swift counter-attacking and then looked extremely nervous in the rest of the first period. Losing captain Vincent Kompany didn't help and Kolo Toure was hardly a reassuring character in his place. Carlos Tevez made a real difference after he came on five minutes into the second and it was a resurgent performance that was eventually crushed by Van Persie's left boot.

United's performance

Sir Alex Ferguson said afterwards that he was delighted with his side's display and he has good reason to be. Rooney was clinical in the first half while the Red Devils always looked a threat on the counter-attack. United's defence and midfield got somewhat overawed once City had pulled a goal back but there won't be many neutrals begrudging Fergie's men the three points.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Robin van Persie: It was always going to be a toss-up between RVP and his strike partner Rooney but the Dutchman gets the award for his work at both ends of the pitch. United's number 10 may have scored the winner but he was also a force in the air, especially at City corners. Almost all of City's eight corners were cleared by Van Persie, even the one for City's equaliser where Zabaleta wasn't picked up on the edge of the box.

Biggest gaffe

This has to be given to Samir Nasri for cowering behind Edin Dzeko in the wall and sticking out a leg that would then divert Van Persie's free kick past Hart's outstretched right glove.

Referee performance

Martin Atkinson did not have a good game. His approach was clearly to be lenient, fair enough. However, he got so many decisions wrong, missing a clear penalty for United when Toure felled Evra, for example.

What next?

City: Next up for Mancini's men is a trip to Newcastle United in the lunchtime kickoff on Saturday.

United: United, meanwhile, welcome an ailing Sunderland side to Old Trafford next weekend.