Thank You Michael Carrick

Yaya Toure was today’s hero as City booked a place at Wembley for the FA Cup Final on May 14^th, but we mustn’t forget the contribution made by Michael Carrick in helping us get there.

With the game poised delicately at 0-0, Carrick superbly passed the ball to Yaya Toure, who charged past Vidic to nutmeg Van Der Sar in the United goal and send City to the FA Cup final.

With both teams missing key strikers, United were still favourites to win the tie, given their recent record against the blues. Prior to the game, Roberto Mancini had only one success against the reds since arriving at Eastlands and that was in last season’s League Cup semi final first leg when the blues won 2-1. However, United won the second leg 3-1 to send the blues crashing out.

So it was something of a revenge game at Wembley today and that revenge was deservedly dished out by a cool finish from Yaya. It was Carrick’s useless attempt to pass the ball on the edge of his own area, rather than thump it away, that presented Yaya with the chance and once he had the ball, he wasted no time in punishing the midfielder.

United had their chances, when Dimitar Berbatov saw his first half shot brilliantly saved after an excellent build up, then less than a minute later, missed an even easier chance when he somehow scooped the ball over the goal from about two yards out.

United are always a threat and minds will no doubt have been cast back to the semi final they played against Oldham Athletic when Mark Hughes grabbed an equaliser in the last minute to force a replay and City fans everywhere would not be able to relax until the referee had blown the final whistle.

However, things got better for City when ageing ginger minger Paul Scholes was dismissed for a disgusting tackle on Pablo Zabaleta. Scholes went in with foot high and studs showing when it connected with Zabaleta’s thigh, earning him an instant red card.

After that, United couldn’t find a way back and even five minutes of Fergie, sorry injury time couldn’t help them this time as City booked a Cup Final date with either Bolton or Stoke.

There was some unsavoury scenes at the end as Rio Ferdinand tried to have a pop at Mario Balotelli, after the Italian nutter apparently flashed the club badge towards the United fans, not that there were many left to see him do it. But despite Balotelli’s actions, Ferdinand should not have reacted the way he did and just wouldn’t let it drop.

And I thought it was City who were supposed to be bitter.