By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer at Eastlands
Paul Scholes kept Manchester United's Premier League title hopes alive as his dramatic winner seconds from the end sunk Manchester City at Eastlands.
Scholes settled a scrappy affair when he headed Patrice Evra's cross past Shay Given to give United a third decisive injury-time goal against their arch-rivals this season.
The visitors were on the verge of having to settle for a draw that would surely have ended their title challenge until Scholes, who signed a new one-year contract on Friday, sent manager Sir Alex Ferguson dancing along the Eastlands touchline in delight.
It was also a sickening blow for City, who had been hoping to step up their claims for a place in the top four and deliver a show of their renewed strength to United.
Instead, the story had a familiar finale, with City's hopes of reaching next season's Champions League in the balance and United clinging to their dream of a fourth successive title.
Scholes believes title race is still on
Wayne Rooney wasted Ferguson's men's best chance in the first half, while substitute Dimitar Berbatov also came close with a header as the game sparked into life after the break.
At the other end goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar saved brilliantly from Carlos Tevez in the first half, while Patrick Vieira and Nedum Onouha both failed to apply the final touches in a desperate late goalmouth scramble.
Craig Bellamy was also guilty of wasteful finishing - and how United made City pay for not taking advantage of the few opportunities they created.
It left Scholes to seal a crucial victory, one that revives United for their last few games while at the same time inflicting damage on City.
United were able to recall the fit-again Rooney, but once more had to do without Rio Ferdinand after he was ruled out by a groin injury.
The champions, who actually entered the game as underdogs in some eyes, controlled possession in a frantic first half full of energy but lacking in moments of quality and inspiration.
United had the game's first opportunity when Darren Fletcher flashed a 20-yard shot inches wide with City keeper Given struggling to make up ground across his goal.
Phelan hails 'vintage Scholes'
City's response brought a fine diving save from Van der Sar, who showed tremendous athleticism to spring high to his right to clutch Tevez's free-kick as it headed into the top corner.
Valencia was troubling defender Wayne Bridge, returning to the City side after a five-match absence following hernia surgery.
The full-back was fortunate that his handball in the area went unnoticed, and twice struggled to deal with the powerful wide man as United created, and wasted, two presentable chances moments before the interval.
Bridge's positioning was poor as Valencia crossed for Rooney, who allowed the ball to run across his body before pulling his effort wide. And more good work from Valencia set up Ryan Giggs, who could only turn a tame finish into the arms of Given.
The home side's fans were enraged after the break after what looked like a blatant piece of gamesmanship from Rooney resulted in a booking for Vincent Kompany. Rooney rolled in agony clutching his ankle after a challenge, only to recover in an instant and sprint off once the yellow card had been produced.
We didn't deserve to lose - Mancini
Bellamy should have done better when he was sent clear by Tevez after 54 minutes. He sent a wayward effort wide with both Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor well placed in the middle.
Both managers then made changes, with Ferguson sending on Nani for Darron Gibson and the Scot's counterpart Roberto Mancini replacing the subdued Adam Johnson with Patrick Vieira.
Mancini's men had penalty claims ignored by referee Martin Atkinson as Gareth Barry went down under pressure from right-back Gary Neville, with the greater frustration coming in the midfield man's inability to take his chance before coming under pressure.
As the game entered its crucial final phase, more tactical alterations were made. The tiring Rooney gave way to Berbatov, while Shaun Wright-Phillips was the somewhat surprising replacement for Adebayor.
And Berbatov, so heavily criticised in recent times, almost made the breakthrough with nine minutes left, flicking a header inches wide from Nani's cross.
United then survived a melee in the area after Van der Sar misjudged Bellamy's corner, with both Vieira and Onuoha unable to apply the finishing touch.
In a frantic finish Giggs was just unable to get his head on the end of another inviting Nani cross as the visitors pressed for the victory they needed.
Bridge then saw a shot saved before Scholes made his dramatic intervention with only seconds of stoppage time remaining, timing his arrival perfectly to meet Evra's cross and send it low beyond Given.
United's wild celebrations illustrated the importance of the goal - and keeps the title fires burning at Old Trafford.
90:00+4:13 The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.
90:00+2:42 Assist on the goal came from Patrice Evra.
90:00+2:42 GOAL - Paul Scholes:Man City 0 - 1 Man Utd Paul Scholes finds the net with a headed goal from inside the penalty box. Man City 0-1 Man Utd.
90:00+2:40 Patrice Evra produces a cross,
90:00+1:29 Wayne Bridge takes a shot. Save made by Edwin Van der Sar.
89:14 Effort from long distance by Shaun Wright-Phillips goes wide right of the target.
88:42 Dimitar Berbatov delivers the ball, save made by Shay Given.
88:24 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Ryan Giggs from the left by-line.
88:17 Luis Nani crosses the ball, Patrick Vieira makes a clearance.
87:12 Wayne Bridge produces a cross.
86:21 Gareth Barry fouled by Gary Neville, the ref awards a free kick. Wayne Bridge takes the free kick.
84:53 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Craig Bellamy, Patrick Vieira takes a shot. Nedum Onuoha gets a block in.
84:01 Unfair challenge on Shaun Wright-Phillips by Gabriel Obertan results in a free kick. The free kick is delivered right-footed
by Carlos Tevez from right wing, clearance made by Nemanja Vidic.
82:33 The referee blows for offside against Dimitar Berbatov. Indirect free kick taken by Shay Given.
81:31 Luis Nani sends in a cross, Header by Dimitar Berbatov from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.
80:59 Patrick Vieira challenges Paul Scholes unfairly and gives away a free kick. Paul Scholes takes the direct free kick.
80:29 The ball is crossed by Shaun Wright-Phillips, Nemanja Vidic makes a clearance.
80:15 Free kick awarded for a foul by Patrice Evra on Patrick Vieira. Gareth Barry takes the free kick.
79:19 Indirect free kick taken by Shay Given.
79:19 Substitution Gabriel Obertan is brought on as a substitute for Antonio Valencia.
79:19 The offside flag is raised against Luis Nani.
77:53 Substitution Nigel De Jong leaves the field to be replaced by Stephen Ireland.
77:41 Shot from just outside the penalty box by Luis Nani misses to the left of the target.
77:33 A cross is delivered by Gary Neville.
77:29 Luis Nani crosses the ball.
76:13 Gareth Barry crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing.
76:13 Booking Patrice Evra goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.
76:09 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Shaun Wright-Phillips by Patrice Evra.
75:38 Nigel De Jong takes a shot. Save by Edwin Van der Sar.
73:37 Substitution Shaun Wright-Phillips on for Emmanuel Adebayor.
73:37 Substitution Dimitar Berbatov joins the action as a substitute, replacing Wayne Rooney.
71:02 The ball is sent over by Ryan Giggs, Effort from inside the six-yard box by Luis Nani goes wide left of the target.
70:05 Patrice Evra produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the goal.
69:37 Free kick awarded for a foul by Nedum Onuoha on Luis Nani. Patrice Evra takes the direct free kick.
69:19 Centre by Wayne Bridge, Patrice Evra makes a clearance.
68:35 A cross is delivered by Antonio Valencia.
66:43 Corner taken left-footed by Gareth Barry, Header by Nedum Onuoha from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the
target.
66:34 The ball is swung over by Emmanuel Adebayor, Jonathan Evans gets a block in.
65:29 Gary Neville concedes a free kick for a foul on Emmanuel Adebayor. Craig Bellamy delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed
from left wing, Jonathan Evans manages to make a clearance.
64:51 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Craig Bellamy from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Luis Nani.
64:22 Substitution Patrick Vieira is brought on as a substitute for Adam Johnson.
63:17 Patrice Evra delivers the ball, Shay Given makes a save.
62:17 The ball is delivered by Antonio Valencia, Ryan Giggs takes a shot from 12 yards.
62:13 Patrice Evra sends in a cross.
61:27 Corner taken left-footed by Ryan Giggs from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Emmanuel Adebayor.
60:47 Gary Neville challenges Emmanuel Adebayor unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Wayne Bridge.
59:41 The ball is swung over by Ryan Giggs, clearance made by Kolo Toure.
58:54 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Ryan Giggs, clearance by Gareth Barry.
58:28 Substitution Darron Gibson leaves the field to be replaced by Luis Nani.
57:54 The ball is sent over by Darren Fletcher, Kolo Toure manages to make a clearance.
57:12 Effort from deep inside the area by Craig Bellamy misses to the left of the target.
56:35 Free kick taken by Gary Neville.
56:35 Booking The referee shows Adam Johnson a yellow card.
56:28 Adam Johnson challenges Antonio Valencia unfairly and gives away a free kick.
56:16 The ball is crossed by Craig Bellamy, Jonathan Evans manages to make a clearance.
55:47 Adam Johnson decides to take a short corner.
55:42 A cross is delivered by Emmanuel Adebayor, Gary Neville gets a block in.
54:55 Darren Fletcher delivers the ball, Paul Scholes has a header from inside the six-yard box and clears the crossbar.
54:09 Paul Scholes restarts play with the free kick.
54:09 Booking Booking for Vincent Kompany for unsporting behaviour.
53:57 Vincent Kompany challenges Wayne Rooney unfairly and gives away a free kick.
52:18 Unfair challenge on Gary Neville by Craig Bellamy results in a free kick. Free kick crossed by Ryan Giggs, blocked by Adam
Johnson.
50:58 Foul by Jonathan Evans on Emmanuel Adebayor, free kick awarded. Gareth Barry takes the free kick.
50:16 Emmanuel Adebayor gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Darren Fletcher. Free kick taken by Paul Scholes.
48:07 Craig Bellamy takes a outswinging corner.
47:59 The ball is sent over by Carlos Tevez, blocked by Nemanja Vidic.
47:10 Adam Johnson sends in a cross, Paul Scholes makes a clearance.
46:40 The ball is crossed by Ryan Giggs, clearance by Kolo Toure.
45:01 The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.
Half Time
45:00+1:09 The half-time whistle blows.
44:50 Patrice Evra produces a cross.
44:17 The ball is sent over by Antonio Valencia, Ryan Giggs takes a shot. Save by Shay Given.
42:49 Nemanja Vidic challenges Emmanuel Adebayor unfairly and gives away a free kick. Adam Johnson crosses the ball in from the
free kick, clearance by Darren Fletcher.
40:31 Wayne Rooney has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.
40:02 The referee blows for offside against Craig Bellamy. Edwin Van der Sar takes the free kick.
38:33 Corner taken by Craig Bellamy from the right by-line, Patrice Evra manages to make a clearance.
37:35 The ball is delivered by Craig Bellamy.
37:05 Darron Gibson takes a shot. Blocked by Nigel De Jong.
33:25 Wayne Bridge delivers the ball, save by Edwin Van der Sar.
33:07 Wayne Rooney is caught offside. Kolo Toure restarts play with the free kick.
32:44 The assistant referee signals for offside against Emmanuel Adebayor. Edwin Van der Sar takes the indirect free kick.
32:31 Kolo Toure produces a cross, clearance by Gary Neville.
32:16 Gareth Barry takes a shot. Blocked by Jonathan Evans.
27:47 The ball is crossed by Gary Neville.
27:08 The ball is crossed by Craig Bellamy.
24:59 Unfair challenge on Darron Gibson by Gareth Barry results in a free kick. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Ryan Giggs,
save made by Shay Given.
24:03 Craig Bellamy delivers the ball, clearance by Nemanja Vidic.
21:38 Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Adam Johnson, Nemanja Vidic makes a clearance.
21:23 Darron Gibson takes a shot. Blocked by Vincent Kompany.
20:22 Unfair challenge on Nedum Onuoha by Patrice Evra results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Nedum Onuoha.
16:08 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nigel De Jong by Wayne Rooney. Shay Given takes the free kick.
14:14 Corner taken by Ryan Giggs played to the near post, clearance made by Nigel De Jong.
12:19 Shot from just outside the penalty area by Paul Scholes misses to the left of the target.
12:08 Centre by Wayne Rooney.
7:36 Darron Gibson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Carlos Tevez. Carlos Tevez shoots direct from the free kick,
save made by Edwin Van der Sar.
7:22 Craig Bellamy delivers the ball, Nemanja Vidic makes a clearance.
5:57 Darren Fletcher challenges Vincent Kompany unfairly and gives away a free kick. Vincent Kompany restarts play with the free
kick.
4:48 The ball is delivered by Adam Johnson.
3:53 Darren Fletcher produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that goes wide left of the target.
3:26 The ball is swung over by Ryan Giggs, Gareth Barry manages to make a clearance.
3:06 Short corner taken by Ryan Giggs.
2:51 Darren Fletcher delivers the ball, blocked by Wayne Bridge.
2:10 Centre by Gary Neville.
1:32 Antonio Valencia produces a cross, Kolo Toure manages to make a clearance.
0:12 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Darren Fletcher by Nigel De Jong. Nemanja Vidic restarts play with the free kick.
0:00 The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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