Vincent Kompany's header was enough for Manchester City to win a tense derby battle with Manchester United 1-0 in the Barclays Premier League at the Etihad Stadium on Monday night.
The inspirational skipper gave Roberto Mancini's team a deserved lead right on the stroke of half-time when he powered home a header from a David Silva corner.
And City protected their lead well in the second period, limiting United to very few openings with Joe Hart untroubled by Wayne Rooney and company.
It all means City leapfrog their neighbours at the top of the table on goal difference, for which they are eight goals better off, with the two teams tied on 83 points.
Manchester United's last two games are home to Swansea and away at Sunderland, with Manchester City away at Newcastle and at home to QPR.
Asked about his emotions after completed a famous league double over United, Kompany said: "Absolutely buzzing. We've been waiting for this moment.
"It's far from over and we know that, but to give our fans two wins over United this season... we have to finish it off and we have to do it over the next two games."
Mancini said his side deserved the win but warned his players to be on their mettle against the Magpies next week, with United facing an "easy" home fixture against Swansea.
"We are happy but I think that next Sunday we will have another difficult game," he told Sky Sports 1.
"They play an easy game against Swansea. I think at this moment we are top of the league, but United has a light advantage yet."
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson felt his side were poor on the night and conceded the title was now City's to throw away.
"It was feisty, competitive, not a lot of goal chances," the Scot said. "We're disappointed we never tested their goalkeeper."