The worst result in my lifetime.
And yet, I had a feeling that we would be humiliated. I didn't say anything before the game because I didn't want to give expression to my negativity, as if it might influence the outcome. If that was true, United would be in the Northern Premier League by now. But I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking we had it coming.
You have to give credit where it's due. City took us apart like we have taken so many other teams apart over the years, particularly away from home. Stunning, unstoppable counter-attacks, soaking up pressure and giving little if anything away at the back.
While United's formation was unusually rigid and static all over the pitch, City's midfield, especially, was fluid. Fletcher and Anderson were, unsurprisingly, completely overrun by Toure, Barry, Milner and Silva. On the rare occasions we did get Nani and Young on the ball out wide, Barry and Milner were usually doubling up on them (not that the impressive Micah Richards needed much help). We created almost nothing of any threat. Although Fletcher's goal was simply sublime, it encouraged our ten men to push on even more in search of another goal - and if we had scored another, well, you never know. But it left us even more hopelessly exposed at the back than we were already and City exploited it ruthlessly in added time.
It's a funny old game. For most of the first half, certainly up until Balotelli's perfectly placed opening goal, we controlled the game. One-nil down at half time was far from perfect, but never insurmountable. Then right after the restart, Jonny Evans - who in my opinion, has been our best defender this season - had a moment of indecision as Balotelli turned him and got away, and then madness trying to rectify his mistake by pulling Balotelli back on the edge of the area. Evans also slipped when trying to block the first goal, and his performance yesterday was sadly typical of last season's. I hope it doesn't affect him or the crowd's perception of him too much, because those terrible forty-seven minutes aside, he has been our rock this season.
Despite having Evans sent off at the start of the second half, United never gave up and continued to take the game to City. I thought Fletcher's performance showed glimpses of a return to the level he was at a couple of season's ago and Smalling and De Gea (despite picking the ball out of the net six times) had decent games. But we seem to have forgotten how to defend as a unit, which has been a problem all season long, and camouflaged only by luck, De Gea's mostly brilliant shot-stopping and our previously joyful attacking play.
We've had heavy and humiliating defeats quite a few times before during Fergie's tenure - 0-5s at Chelsea and Newcastle spring to mind, as well as the more recent 1-4 loss at home to Liverpool a couple of seasons ago. United have always bounced back and I expect we will again. I'm just thankful I don't have to face anyone at school or work and I don't have any City-supporting mates to rub it in.