24 Oct 2011

Sir Alex suffers worst loss of his career

8:06 am on 24 October 2011

The Italian football striker Mario Balotelli has inspired the worst loss of Sir Alex Ferguson's career as Manchester City thrashed 10-man Manchester United 6-1 to go five points clear at the top of the English Premier League.

Balotelli fired City ahead in the 22nd minute and added a second on the hour mark before Argentine striker Sergio Aguero netted a third in the 69th minute.

A brace of late goals from Edin Dzeko and a David Silva finish completed City's scoring on a memorable afternoon as United suffered their worst home defeat in Premier League history.

United - who had Jonny Evans sent off two minutes into the second half - scored a late goal through Darren Fletcher.

The defeat was United's first league loss at Old Trafford since April 2010 and left City at the top of the table.

Stunned United boss Ferguson says the defeat was the worst of his 54-year career as a player and manager.

A good afternoon for City got even better in the late games as Chelsea crashed to a 1-0 defeat against Queens Park Rangers

Tottenham moved up one place with a 2-1 win at Blackburn.

Elsewhere Arsenal captain Robin van Persie has come off the substitutes bench to score two goals as the Gunners downed Stoke 3-1 at the Emirates.

At Craven Cottage, Everton has scored twice in injury time to clinch a 3-1 victory over Fulham.