Georgia Stanway received a red but Manchester United Women ensured that Manchester wouldn't be Blue tonight with a well-fought point against Manchester City.
With everything going against City this season, Stanway's moment of madness changed the game and ensured their task of earning a first win in four Women's Super League games was to be far harder.
Still, City took a shock lead after Stanway's marching orders, before an impressive United fightback put them on the way to a first league win over their under-pressure rivals. However, City showed the type of character that will be needed as they continue to battle injury and poor form, as Ellen White returned from injury to rescue a point.
The build-up to this one was centred over the same theme - City's injury crisis and their three defeats in a row to leave them ninth in the table. Gareth Taylor accepted he was under pressure in his pre-match press conference, but challenged his players to channel that into a good derby performance to kick-start a turnaround in form. Marc Skinner dismissed the idea that United were favourites and insisted form went out of the window in a derby.
Both managers also offered something in the way of mind-games in the build-up, suggesting that Alessia Russo and Keir Walsh were unlikely to start, yet both were on the teamsheets in a boost to their bosses.
With a noisy crowd boosted by a healthy following from City, the early signs were that Skinner was right. United were finding some joy behind City's makeshift defence - featuring a midfielder and striker in the back four - but the visitors were finding joy by going over United's press. That forced the first real chance of the derby, with Janine Beckie forcing a good save from Mary Earps after a dangerous Lauren Hemp cross.
The chance sparked City into life. This time Beckie turned provider with a wonderful cross from the right, and Hemp's goalbound header was cleared off the line by Maria Thorisdottir. Stanway later tried to go all the way from right-back but was cut out on the 18-yard line, while Russo couldn't feed Toone for a shooting opportunity on the resulting break.
Slowly, United were growing back into the contest, slowing things down and a curled effort from Kirsty Hanson was a reminder of their threat. Then came the game's changing moment.
Georgia Stanway and Leah Galton contested a 50-50 ball in the centre, but Stanway's challenge was poor, catching Galton high on the thigh with the flat of her boot. It was a foul that generated gasps from around Leigh Sports Village, and a red card was inevitable. Thankfully, Galton was able to continue.
The reduction to ten players was the last thing City needed in this game, and Stanway will now serve a suspension to add to her side's selection issues.
Finally, though, City got some luck going their way as it was the under-pressure visitors who opened the scoring. Demi Stokes, supporting the attack, received the ball and her cross for Bunny Shaw was perfect, allowing the striker to power home a header she couldn't have turned down.
They almost had a second before the break, Hemp again squeezing through on the byline and just evading Filippa Angeldahl with a cross. If anything, the red card galvanised them.
Even after half time, City were brighter, although United slowly began to press the spaces left by Stanway's red. With Janine Beckie moved back into right-back, United allowed Jackie Groenen to move into attack, effectively leaving a midfield battle between just Keira Walsh and Katie Zelem.
Slowly but surely, United were pressing more and more, Galton their main outlet on the left. When she won a corner, substitute Lucy Staniforth converted at the near post to give her side a deserved equaliser.
And one immediately became two, United bombed forward and City couldn't clear a cut-back for Alessia Russo, who was able to control, turn and squeeze a shot past Karima Taieb when she should have done better. In the space of three minutes, 0-1 became 2-1.
But the sudden madness didn't stop there, City substitute Jess Park firing a wonderful effort against the bar, which bounced down and was converted by fellow substitute Ellen White. Just like last season's game at United, neither side were determined to lose this.
On balance, a point apiece was fair. City reacted brilliantly to Stanway's red, and United did well to put themselves back ahead. However, a point doesn't really suit either side. United remain winless against City in the league and would have wanted to win this one to keep up their Champions League ambitions.
City remain in the bottom half and don't return to WSL action for another month as they look to climb back up the table. They will have to hope that when they do, they have more players to call upon.
Stanway won't be one of them, though.
