UNITED ARE OUT FOR THE COUNT

Foden and Haaland land knock-out blows as City thrash rivals in perfect tribute to tragic Hatton

- BY JOHN CROSS Chief Football Writer X@johncrossmirror

THIS was the best possible tribute Manchester City I could have paid to Ricky Hatton.

The Etihad rose as one before kick-off with a highly emotional and moving minute's applause to the boxing hero and City fan after his untimely death.

Then City delivered a performance which would have made Hatton proud as they blew bitter rivals Manchester United away on the day they lost one of their greatest supporters.

Fittingly, Phil Foden, also a boyhood City fan, was at the heart of the victory as he had promised before kick-off to win the derby for Hatton - and duly delivered.

Erling Haaland scored twice as his strength and finishing destroyed United's creaking defence and, incredibly, the giant Norway striker is into double figures for club and country this season. Eleven goals and it is still only September!

It was Foden who got the opener and you could tell the way he celebrated by running to the crowd that it was a particularly poignant moment for him.