It is not often when climbing to fifth in the Premier League table, 37 points behind the leaders, is considered worthy of a lap of honour.
But for Manchester United, this was one of those occasions… and no-one could blame them for enjoying every last roar of adulation.
Because this was about more than another derby win, about more than another three points in their bid to secure Champions League football.
This felt different. This felt as though it was the day when every single United player and every home fan inside Old Trafford truly bought into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Bought into the idea that he does, indeed, have some sort of vision and, now he is assembling his own squad, that this is the start of some sort of journey.
All four stands reverberated to the sound of the Norwegian’s name after one of the most significant victories in his Old Trafford tenure.
Sure, in the cold light of day, United were gifted their two goals by Ederson, whose casually awful afternoon typified much of this Manchester City performance.
While United fought as though it was a cup final, City fought as though it was a testimonial.
While the scenes when, in added time, Scott McTominay sent Ederson’s shocking throw-out back into the keeper’s net were of glorious uproar, traditionalists might eventually not accept a tactical approach that gave United a meagre 28 percent of possession.
And City not only looked like a team who know the rest of the Premier League season is little more than a formality to be completed, they were without their best player in Kevin de Bruyne.
But none of that should dilute praise for this vibrant United performance.
Indeed, had Mike Dean given United the chance to double their first half lead from the penalty sport - instead of booking Fred for diving when he was fouled by the hapless Nicolas Otamendi - it could have been more convincing.
To be fair, Dean had given United a helping hand in the opener, belatedly awarding a debatable free-kick for an Ilkay Gundogan challenge of Bruno Fernandes.
When Bruno had stopped rolling, he scooped the set-piece over a sleeping Sergio Aguero and on to the right boot of Anthony Martial.
It was ingenious but Ederson should have been able to throw his cap on it.
Alas, his wrist turned to jelly and United were ahead against the run of play.
Well, against the run of possession.
Guardiola’s men might have monopolised the ball for long periods but the closest they came to an equaliser was when Raheem Sterling only got a scrape of his studs on to a Riyad Mahrez cross that begged to be converted.
That was about that for City.
The outstanding Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire repelled most of City’s strangely unimaginative attacks, Fred and Nemanja Matic were suitably combative in midfield, Fernandes offered a creative spark while Martial and Daniel James scared with speed.
United will actually play better than this, will show more quality, be more accomplished in their passing.
But this was not strictly about the quality. This was about demonstrating the desire to improve under Solskjaer, to stick to a game plan with total commitment, to at least honour the shirt with complete effort.
That, along with McTominay’s dramatic final decoration to the scoreline, is why a re-energised Old Trafford demanded a lap of honour.
That is why Solskjaer and his men deserved one … fifth place and 37 points in arrears or not.
