Derby loses its sting

Manchester's week of football destiny reaches an internal climax this afternoon. Yet it is likely that half the participants could do without the squabble, while the other half are probably too fearful to give it rational thought. Old Trafford does not expect to host a classic.

It was meant to be so different. Eight days ago Manchester United were staring at a match with Coventry City that would set them up for both the midweek European Cup tie against Bayern Munich and then today's local derby with Manchester City, after which they would be crowned champions. It was all so certain.

United duly defeated Coventry, only for Middlesbrough to go and win at Arsenal. That ended the Premiership prematurely. Then, on Wednesday, Mehmet Scholl and Giovane Elber ended their European interest prematurely as well. As such, entertaining the neighbours with nothing at stake but an irrelevant smattering of local pride amounts to a significant anti-climax for Alex Ferguson's team.

For City, on the other hand, the game has always remained the same. The only fluctuations have been the fact that they went and won surprisingly at Filbert Street last Saturday to give their slim hopes of surviving relegation a boost, and that United's relative malaise may offer some sort of previously unseen distraction.

Despite having witnessed just two victories in 18 league matches since early December, manager Joe Royle has sounded optimistic since United's European elimination on Wednesday. "The bookmakers may not think so but this game will be a lot closer than people think," said Royle. "We have to start defending properly and get a base, but I know we're capable of getting a goal."

City have taken heart from Coventry's goals last Saturday, and the responsibility for duplicating John Hartson's efforts will fall at the unpredictable feet of Paulo Wanchope, scorer of an outrageous backheel goal at Leicester. Wanchope does have form against United, though. His first goal in English football for Derby County was at Old Trafford, and he scored there again for West Ham.

The creative burden will be on Andrei Kanchelskis. The man who graced Ferguson's first Premiership-winning side on the right, but who then became the last player who actually asked to leave the club, cannot have thought he would return in sky blue. But then Denis Law did the same.

Law's famous goal in 1974 remains City's last match-winner at Old Trafford, and the odds must be on the 27-year wait being extended. If it is and City do go down, then the game could be Ferguson's last Manchester derby. City have West Ham and Chelsea at home to come and Ipswich Town away.

As Royle said, they must begin well. That did not happen in November at Maine Road, when David Beckham speared a free-kick in with the game barely started. Beckham is likely to return today. So, too, Teddy Sheringham, yesterday named the football writers' Player of the Year.

Both will aim to beat Carlo Nash, City's goalkeeper, who was on United's books as a young teenager but who ended up playing pub football until rescued by Crystal Palace. He could be one of the most unlikely heroes ever.