Manchester United supporters briefly chanted "If you go down to Man City you'll buy one get one free" - a reference to the apparent ease of obtaining tickets at the Etihad. Before half-time, it was the away section that was pockmarked by vacant seats. They missed another five goals.
A helicopter overhead captured the early departures filing out of the away section like a colony of ants. They had already seen United ship four at the same ground this year and United have conceded at least four in eight games within the last year.
How City fans would have loved the Etihad's sizeable screen to have mirrored the broadcasters and displayed Sir Alex Ferguson's expression at 4-0. The stewing Scot sat motionless, possibly suffering flashbacks of The 5-1 and The 6-1. City surpassed the former and briefly emulated the latter scoreline.
