The sight of a Manchester United player brandishing a winners' medal on a sodden Old Trafford pitch has been rare since that downpour in May 2013 but happier days may be imminent.
Time will tell if the mentality of World Cup winner Lisandro Martinez, paraded by United prior to kick-off, rubs off on some of his more unfulfilled teammates. For now, United are a point off City and Arsenal are nine clear. United have clawed back greater deficits than that.
Newcastle have already been reeled in, a poor sequel to the 1995-96 duel, with United now level on points with the Gulf-state club. It would be churlish to consider United championship challengers yet Liverpool and Tottenham's managers are unloading in defeat and Chelsea are 10th. United's fans have plenty to crow about again.
