Derby games 同城球隊的比賽 are always tense affairs 緊張的賽事.

But this season’s first meeting between neighbours Manchester United and Manchester City had even more at stake 更為事關重大的 than usual.

United are last season’s champions and have traditionally had the upper hand 占上風 in these encounters 交鋒, but seem to be suffering without the creative genius 具有創(chuàng)造力的天才 of recently-departed hero 最近剛剛離開的英雄 Cristiano Ronaldo.

City, on the other hand, are newly mega-rich 巨富 thanks to a takeover 收購 by an Arab consortium 阿拉伯聯合體, and have spent money like water 花錢如流水 on new players over the past month, including, controversially 有爭議地, Carlos Tevez from United.

Unbeaten 沒有被擊敗的 in their opening four games, did Manchester City finally have what it takes 具有… 能力 to defeat their local rivals?

Well the answer came seven goals and 97 minutes later in a thrilling 激動人心的 match that ebbed and flowed 起起落落的, with finally United winning 4-3.

Much to the delight of the United fans, their winner came in the 95th minute when new striker Michael Owen scored his first goal for them at their ground 球場 Old Trafford.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson even got up and did an impromptu jig 即席舞蹈 in celebration.

But City boss Mark Hughes immediately complained that too much stoppage time 加時賽 had been added to the normal 90 minutes, and demanded an explanation.

He feels the referee may have added the extra time because of pressure from the Manchester United supporters.

"It's a big stage here and that puts everyone under pressure 使每個人都感到有壓力, including the referees.

Nonetheless, Hughes praised his team’s effort, saying: "We're disappointed; we put in a hell of a shift 班 today."

The phrase 'a hell of a' is used to intensify 加強（語氣）the noun that comes after it. The phrase is very informal 不正式的 and can even be offensive 無禮的 in some contexts, but here when Hughes said "one hell of a shift", he meant his team worked very hard for that period of time.

By contrast 相對來說, Sir Alex Ferguson was jubilant 歡慶的 after the match, and even described the seven-goal match as probably "the best derby of all time".

The result also gave Ferguson an excuse to have a dig 批評 at Manchester City and the new-found ambition their money has given them, dismissing 不屑一顧地說 them as mere "noisy neighbours".

"Sometimes you have a noisy neighbour. You cannot do anything about that. They will always be noisy," said Ferguson.

Somewhat cryptically 令人費解的 he added: "You just have to get on with your life, put your television on and turn it up a bit louder."

Many managers have wondered how to emulate 模仿 Ferguson’s undoubted success with Manchester United.

Maybe now they realise all they need to do is turn their telly 電視 up.