City 0 United 1

Paul Scholes headed a priceless last-gasp winner at Eastlands to keep United in the hunt for the Barclays Premier League title.

After a tense, tight derby encounter, the midfielder popped up in the final minute of added time to nod home Patrice Evra's superb cross and move the Reds to within a point of Chelsea, ahead of the league leaders' late-afternoon trip to Tottenham.

Amid the Reds' ongoing chase for a fourth straight title, the subplot of City's challenge for local and, ultimately, national supremacy had seemed set to hog the headlines. But Scholes had other ideas and just a day after penning a one-year contract extension, the 35-year-old illustrated his enduring value not only with his winner, but by dictating play in a masterful midfield performance.

Of United's three pre-match injury doubts, two recovered sufficiently to join the starting XI. Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs were both available, but Rio Ferdinand's groin injury prompted a return for Jonny Evans alongside Nemanja Vidic in the centre of defence.

Both sides started the game with evident intent to attack. Darren Fletcher fired a 25-yard effort inches wide of Shay Given's post, with the Irishman well beaten, before Carlos Tevez's top corner free-kick drew a fine full-length catch from Edwin van der Sar.

Despite coming out of their corners swinging, both sides quickly displayed an awareness of the potential cost of failure. United bossed