This is where I get emotional now," says Rothband. "It is so deep rooted. All of that stuff for me from the 60s onwards. Nonetheless, the sheer weight of numbers make it an interesting exercise. Read More Related Articles When Dzeko scored [to equalise late on] I didn’t even celebrate, it was just too late. And when that winner went in, I mean, I’ve spoken about losing it for the play-off final. It was just everything.

In 31 of the 32 seasons from 1980 to 2012, they finished above City in the league ladder, suffering just two derby defeats in that time - 1-0 in 1981 and 5-1 in 1989, both coming at Maine Road. The latter of those two games is one our two fans remember well, but understandably for different reasons. If found guilty, punishments could range from a fine and points deduction to expulsion from the Premier League. It’s a completely unscientific survey that’s just for fun - but does reveal some fascinating results.

'Tis the (events) season

The latter began its life as humble Newton Heath LYR in 1878, formed by the Carriage and Wagon department of the area's Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway depot. Funded by the LYR, their early games were against other rail companies and saw them wear the green and yellow colours that modern United fans now use as a protest symbol against the current Glazer ownership. City return from the international break to face the Merseyside Reds. May not have Harland in this one but it’s bound to be close either way. I’ll take a Doku tally and one more from Foden as the Manc Blues down Liverpool. On a barely believable Sunday, the fate of the top-flight crown swung one way and the other, with United completing their win over Sunderland as City were being held at home by QPR. Post-Ferguson, with previous levels of success proving elusive, United's transfer strategy became more reactive and increasingly profligate under a series of differing managers. City's return to the top flight under Joe Royle in 2000 not only rekindled the rivalry between the two clubs but acted as a showcase for the culmination of a smaller but no less fierce individual feud.

By comparison, it was something of a fallow period for City, although they did reach successive FA Cup finals in 1955 and 1956, losing the former but beating Birmingham 3-1 in the latter. Come the late 60s, though, they were a very different proposition. Led by a smoking aficionado with over 25 years of hard-earned experience in the tobacco business, the team behind Manchester cigarette have built the brand from the ground up with diligence and perseverance. Overcoming obstacles and countless struggles along the way, they set out to develop a brand that was characterized by the highest quality and designed for the modern tobacco lovers. It was pretty brutal on the pitch in those days and I think part of that was because much of the team then were Manchester lads. Mike Doyle, for example, who was City through and through – he bled sky-blue blood. A lot of those players were City fans themselves, from the local area. I think that fuelled an even greater rivalry.It was in this season that United recorded their lowest league finish in 24 seasons, taking seventh under the initial management of Ferguson's anointed successor David Moyes and then his interim replacement Giggs.