Let me set the scene. The date, Saturday 9th November 2002 the last Manchester derby to be staged at Maine Road. Kevin Keegan and Alex Ferguson locking horns again for the first time since the mid 90's. The last time City had not won a derby game since the 5-1 victory in 1989. The atmosphere was electric. 34649 fans wanting a victory for their respective club.
The game started at a frantic pace. 13 million pound man Nicolas Anelka put City in the lead after 5 minutes, feeding off the scraps from a parried Shaun Goater shot. United were level 3 minutes later as a Ryan Giggs cross was not dealt with and Ole Gunnar Solksjaer was there to equalise.
The game mellowed out, 25 minutes had now elapsed, step forward Gary Neville...
An innocent ball hoofed upfield from Lucien Mettomo was heading out for a goal kick, all Neville had to do was to make sure the ball headed out of play. The rest is history.
Shaun Goater stole the ball from under the feet of Neville, a robbery Jesse James would of been proud of. Goater slotted the ball in from an impossible angle to send City into the break 2-1 up.
What makes this game, and this moment more special is what Gary Neville said only a few days before the game, saying he had never lost to City at any level and he didn't intend to start now.
Gary Neville, I Salute you.
"Derby Day, the scores were level, then the Goat was fed by Neville."
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