Odds favour City but Manchester derby can spring a surprise result

CONSIGN the results - both past and present - to the garbage can. And forget the disparity in current standards. In football derbies, especially the one involving Manchester City and Manchester United, these mean little, or even nothing, at all.

The Manchester derby is an historic English football contest that dates all the way back to 1881, and when the form book goes out of the window, there's always the possibility of a surprise outcome. Whenever the blue and red halves of Manchester lock horns, there is an adrenaline rush among their supporters, and a pumped-up feeling among the protagonists. This emotional thrust motivates the players to perform beyond their best, because the motive is the same - to win at all costs. And if they fail, it usually won't be for a lack of effort.

Home advantage?