It's the morning after in Manchester. The morning after a red letter night in the blue half of Manchester.
Vincent Kompany has been inspirational for Manchester City and has been easily one of their standout players this season and he deservedly got the goal that may have possibly handed the title to the side based at Eastlands, heading it past David de Gea in the Manchester United goal.
Manchester United may have started quickly out of the blocks but after attack after attack was absorbed by Manchester City, it was the blue team who dominated the game and once they got in front, never really looked like losing this game. Yes, they had chances to put the game beyond doubt but all in all, it was a superb performance by their midfield and defence which won them this game.
For much of the season, City have looked like champions. But they appeared to hit a wall going into spring and it seemed like they had lost the title to their much maligned rivals especially after that 1-0 loss to Arsenal.
Mancini even wrote off their chances of winning the title for the year as they headed to Norwich. They won 5-1 and found that form that took them to the top of the table early in the season. They backed it up with another thumping at home against West Brom, just as Man United could only draw 4-4 at home to Everton after a shock 1-0 loss to Wigan.
Man City are actually one of Wigan's biggest rivals but they might have handed them a lifeline in the title race as that win courtesy of former Celtic player, Shaun Maloney, appears to have taken the wind out of the sails from Man United who seemed to be cruising to yet another title.
Of course, one must remember that Man City still have to go to Newcastle while Man United host Swansea. However, Man City do host QPR who may possibly have nothing to play for depending on results the weekend before, while Man United go to Sunderland who have shown to be quite tough to beat since Martin O'Neill came in.
It is highly conceivable that Tyne/Wearside could decide the final destination of the title and with Newcastle still chasing a Champions League spot, on paper, they will be tough for City to beat at St James Park. However, they did lose 4-0 to Wigan the weekend before and have to play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge - a place where they don't usually do well.
It could be two losses on the trot and a sign that like United, that Newcastle may have hit a bit of stumbling block at the wrong time of the season. Perfect time to play a highly inspired and motivated City side, then. Furthermore, City played a Norwich side just after they upset Tottenham at White Hart Lane and we know what the result was there.
If City win at St James, the title surely will be theirs. But I can see both Manchester sides drawing on Tyne/Wearside and winning their remaining games. If that is the case, the title will still be City's.
Nevertheless, the race for the title is definitely set to go down to the final day after last night's result and is very much now like sudden death in a penalty shootout. Let's just hope the takers have a bit more about them than Bayern's and Real Madrid's.
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