My Five Thoughts are here, but below here are the links to some of the wider coverage:

• City will appeal Vincent Kompany's red card. [MEN]
• Henry Winter's match report. [The Telegraph]
• Stuart Brennan's verdict. [MEN]
• Kevin McCarra's match report. [The Guardian]
• David Pleat's tactical analysis. [The Guardian]
• Daniel Taylor's Five Talking Points. [The Guardian]
• Roberto Mancini accuses Wayne Rooney of helping ot get Vincent Kompany sent off. [The Telegraph]
• Graham Poll suggests that Chris Foy got the penalty decision (and others) wrong. [The Mail]
• Martin Samuel writes that City will not be too downhearted by defeat. [The Mail]

The tie of the round is a mere few hours away now that will kick off an important week for City cup wise. Here's the links to some of the best articles doing the rounds:

• Daniel Taylor with an excellent profile of Roberto Mancini. [The Guardian]
• Ian Herbert writes about how Mancini 'fell in love' with Manchester. [Independent]
• Paul Wilson writes that United face a 'slow death' if City win today. [The Observer]
• Joe Hart speaks to Henry Winter. [The Telegraph]
• Amy Lawrence profiles David Silva. [The Guardian]
• View From A Blue previews the game. [View From A Blue]
• Duncan White suggests that much rests on Wayne Rooney. [The Telegraph]
• United Rants profiles the previous meetings between City and United in the FA Cup. [United Rant]
• And away from the Derby, there are reports suggesting that Carlos Tevez has agreed terms with Milan. [The Telegraph]

A little late in the day, but here's your links covering all of the derby victory reaction:

• Kevin McCarra's match report. [The Guardian]
• Stuart Brennan's verdict. [MEN]
• Jim White's match report. [The Telegraph]
• 'The best is yet to come', says James Milner. [MEN]
• Paul Hayward labels David Silva the 'shining light'. [The Guardian]
• Sam Wallace writes about a changing of the guard. [Independent]
• Daniel Taylor's 'Five Things We Learned'. [The Guardian]
• Zonal Marking's analysis of the game. [Zonal Marking]
• Alistair Magowan looks at the influence of David Silva and James Milner. [BBC Sport]
• Alan Hansen suggests City are now favourites for the title. [The Telegraph]
• Roberto Mancini suggests that Mario Balotelli is in the 'top five in the world'. [Independent]
• Reaction from around the world. [The Telegraph]
• And Mario Balotelli, Fire Safety poster-boy? [MEN]

Just a few hours to go until kick-off and here are some early morning reads for you:

• The MEN look at some of the key battles. [MEN]
• Duncan White writes that shackling Wayne Rooney is the key. [The Telegraph]
• Roberto Mancini compares Yaya Toure to Ruud Gullit. [The Telegraph]
• Daniel Taylor profiles the key areas in a series of articles. [The Guardian]
• Yaya Toure says history 'is waiting to be written'. [The Guardian]
• A great read on Mike Doyle from Tim Rich. [The Independent]
• Away from the pitch, City are planning to expand the capacity of The Etihad Stadium. [The Telegraph]
• And last but not least, Mario Balotelli + fireworks = headlines. [The Guardian]

• My look at the numbers so far for both City and United. [EPLIndex]
• And some individual comparisons across the pitch: [Bitter and Blue]
• Mark Hughes has plenty to say ahead of the game. [The Telegraph]
• Roberto Mancini suggests that City are closing the gap. [guardian.co.uk]
• Miguel Delaney casts a tactical eye over tomorrow's game. [Eircomsports]
• David Lacey takes a look back in time to when City and United were last challenging for title. [guardian.co.uk]
• Mario Balotelli credits Roberto Mancini and talks of his happiness at the club. [mcfc.co.uk]
• Henry Winter previews the 'six-pointer'. [The Telegraph]
• Can James Milner provide a third-way for City? [BBC Sport]
• Mark Ogden profiles David Silva. [The Telegraph]
• Alex Ferguson is relishing the challenge that City now pose. [guardian.co.uk]
• City have a 40.7% chance of victory in tomorrow's game. [Accuscore]
• And some more scientific predictions. [kickoff.co.uk]

No Premier League this weekend of course as the final stages of qualification for Euro 2012 take place this week:

• Joe Hart and Gareth Barry started as England got the point to ensure qualification to Euro 2012 with a 2-2 draw at Montenegro - a game in which Stefan Savic also started. [telegraph.co.uk]
• Vincent Kompany was on the scoresheet in Belguim's 4-1 win over Kazakhstan that sees them move into a play-off position in Group A. However, they are just one point ahead of Turkey who play Azerbaijan in the final game whilst Belgium face Germany. [uefa.com]
• Samir Nasri starred in France's 3-0 win over Albania that sees them remain in first position in Group D heading into the final round of games. [uefa.com]
• But with Edin Dzeko on the scoresheet for Bosnia in their 5-0 win over Luxembourg, victory for Dzeko & co will see them pip France for top spot. [uefa.com]
• Serbia - featuring Aleksandar Kolarov - managed a 1-1 draw with Italy and know victory in their final game against Slovenia will see them make the play-offs. [uefa.com]
• David Silva helped Spain maintain their 100% record in Group I with a 2-0 win against the Czech Republic. [uefa.com]
• Costel Pantilimon started for Romania in their 2-2 draw at home to Belarus, but the Romanians have failed to qualify for Euro 2012. [uefa.com]

A comfortable victory then which never seemed in any doubt and it is Owen Hargreaves - back in action after such a horror run of injuries - who is grabbing the headlines today.

In a much-changed side the concensus was that Hargreaves, along with the returning Kolo Toure, Mario Balotelli and youngster Abdul Razak (who has impressed in his few appearances to date) all shone but undoubtedly the focus post-match was all about City's recent signing:

• Daniel Taylor reflects on a comfortable night for City: [The Guardian]
• Mark Ogden reports on Hargeaves' comeback: [The Telegraph]
• Ian Herbert on the 'significant step' taken by Hargreaves: [The Independent]
• Chris Hughton thinks Birmingham may have too much respect: [Birmingham Mail]
• Stuart Brennan's match report: [MEN]
• And Rob Dawson's player ratings: [MEN]
• Hargeaves spoke post-match of his relief at getting back on the field: [The Guardian]
• And finally, he may played for only an hour, but Roberto Mancini saw enough to feel that Hargeaves could be set for an England recall: [MEN]

• Despite playing for Arsenal in their defeat to Liverpool, Samir Nasri's move to City is very much still on, writes Phil McNulty: [BBC Sport]
• Or is it? Glenn Moore suggests Nasri is set to stay and fight for Arsenal: [Independent]
• City are set to allow Emmanuel Adebayor join Tottenham on a free in order to shed his £170,000 a week salary: [Sunday Mirror]
• Meanwhile, City's 'outcasts' will not form part of the 25-man Premier League squad: [MEN]
• Pablo Zabaleta reveals he is helping Sergio Aguero settle in at the club: [telegraph.co.uk]
• Paul Hayward writes that Aguero will allow City to release the handbrake: [Observer]
• But Paul Merson still feels City are too defensive, particularly away from home: [mcfc.co.uk]
• Owen Coyle says he is ready for big-spending City: [BBC Sport]
• My look at the respective wide men over at EPL Index: [EPL Index]