FODEN PACKS A REAL PUNCH

Phil turns hitman to do City-mad Ricky proud

- by JEREMY CROSS

ON A day when Manchester City lost one of their own, it was fitting that another local legend helped win this derby for Pep Guardiola’s side.

The death of former world boxing champion Ricky Hatton cast a dark shadow over the latest chapter of one of football’s most explosive stories.

But if Hatton was looking down from above, perhaps he smiled at the fact Manchesterborn Phil Foden landed the first blow in this scrap between two neighbours.

The whole of the Etihad paid a fitting and emotional tribute to Hatton before kickoff.

Then Foden added his own with a first-half header to fire his side ahead. Before lending a hand in the buildup to the first of Erling Haaland’s two second-half strikes to confirm a much-needed win for the deposed champions.

Hatton had blue blood running through his veins. As does Foden, who landed the first punch - one Hatton would have been proud of - with a well-timed header to set City on the road to victory.