The cheers were all for Michael Owen - the jeers were reserved for pantomime villain Carlos Tevez.

Owen stepped off the bench to give Manchester United the bragging rights with a goal five and a half minutes into stoppage time.

It was his first at home for his new club - and the timing could not have better as it condemned Manchester City to a 4-3 defeat in a pulsating derby.

Visiting manager Mark Hughes pointed animatedly to his watch at the fourth official but all to no avail.

City had clawed their way back into the game three times only to be left empty handed.

If Tevez was expecting a warm welcome on his return to the stadium he was sadly mistaken.

The Argentina striker switched colours in the summer after scoring 19 goals in 63 appearances for United.

The fans loved him then but not now - especially as he set up two of City's three goals.

He was booed when his name was read out before kick-off and it continued every time he touched the ball.

Tevez scored in the corresponding fixture last season and celebrated by cupping his hands to his ear as if to say to Sir Alex Ferguson. 'Can you here the noise?'

He had gone public on the day of the game stating he felt his two-year loan spell was coming to an end as he was frustrated at being on the fringes of the team.

That proved to be the case as he signed a five-year deal for City in the summer.

Tevez was not expected to make the team after a knee injury that saw him miss the victory against Arsenal.

But he passed a late fitness test, although he wore a bandage to protect his knee.

Tevez ran freely and put in a hard shift but it was United who took the honours.

The home supporters put up their own 'Welcome to Manchester' banner in response to City's regarding Tevez's arrival.

It displayed their trophies: 18 league titles, 3 European Cups, 11 FA Cups.

First blood went to United with Wayne Rooney making the breakthrough with a fine finish in the second minute after Patrice Evra had carved out the opening.

Given his verbal spats with rival manager and former player Mark Hughes before the game it was little wonder Ferguson enjoyed the moment.

The Old Trafford boss, normally so calm, was animated, leaping out of his seat and embracing those around him.

Ferguson's smile lasted only 12 minutes, however, as Tevez helped bring City level.

He took the ball away from hesitant goalkeeper Ben Foster and rolled it to Gareth Barry, who drilled it into the net.

United looked rattled with Tevez getting in among Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.

The Argentina ace almost put his side ahead on the stroke of half-time after Kolo Toure won the ball off Rooney.

Tevez's effort beat Foster only to come back off the post, much to United's relief.

City again found themselves chasing the game in the 49th minute when Fletcher headed a cross from Ryan Giggs after good skill from Patrice Evra. Back came City and three minutes later Tevez fed Bellamy who raced forward to thump his drive beyond Foster.

United began to turn the screw and goalkeeper Shay Given made two marvellous point-blank saves in quick succession from Dimitar Berbatov and Giggs.

Fletcher headed his second goal with ten minutes remaining only for Bellamy to get his brace on the stroke of full time.

Then with time running out Owen took a pass from Giggs in his stride to fire past Given as the day ended in heartache for Tevez and his team-mates.

Owen fact-file

1979: Born December 14, Chester.

1995: Beats the goalscoring record of Kevin Gallen and Nick Barmby for England Under-15s.

1996: Helps Liverpool win the FA Youth Cup in May and signs professional terms on 17th birthday after previously joining them as a schoolboy.

1997: May 6 - Scores on his first-team debut against Wimbledon at Selhurst Park.

September 16 - Scores on European debut against Celtic in UEFA Cup.

November 18 - Nets his first senior hat-trick against Grimsby in the Coca-Cola Cup.

December 17 - Scores on his debut for England Under-21s.

1998: February 2 - Named in Glenn Hoddle's senior squad for the first time.

February 11 - Becomes youngest England international of the 20th century when he starts against Chile.

February 14 - Scores his first Premier League hat-trick against Sheffield Wednesday. Finishes season joint-top scorer in the Premier League with 18 goals.

May 31 - Named in England's World Cup squad of 22.

June 22 - Scores after coming on as substitute against Romania but England lose 2-1.

June 30 - Scores a sensational goal against Argentina before England bow out of France 98 on penalties.

December 13 - Named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, one day before his 19th birthday.

2000: June - Named in Kevin Keegan's Euro 2000 squad.

2001: May - Scores twice in the last seven minutes as Liverpool come back to beat Arsenal 2-1 in the FA Cup final at the Millennium Stadium.

September 1 - A hat-trick helps England to an historic 5-1 win over Germany in the World Cup qualifier in Munich.

December 17 - Named European Footballer of the Year.

2002: April 16 - Named as stand-in England captain for friendly against Paraguay.

June - Scores goals against Denmark and Brazil during England's run to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Japan.

2003: April 26 - Scores his 100th Premier League goal, the second of four in a 6-0 rout of West Brom.

June 11 - Making 50th England appearance, captains the side in the absence of David Beckham and nets twice in 2-1 Euro 2004 qualifying defeat of Slovakia at Riverside Stadium.

September 24 - Breaks Ian Rush's Liverpool record, scoring his 21st goal in European competition with a header against Olimpija Ljubljana in the UEFA Cup first round 1-1 draw in Slovenia.

2004: June - Scores one goal for England in Euro 2004 - in the quarter-final defeat to Portugal.

August 12 - Sources close to Real Madrid reveal the Spanish club have agreed to give Liverpool £8million and Antonio Nunez for the services of Owen.

August 13 - Passes medical with the Spanish giants.

2005: May 23 - After scoring 16 goals in his debut season in Spain, states his intention to stay with Real Madrid despite reported interest from Newcastle.

August 3 - After Real Madrid sign Robinho and Julio Baptista, Owen admits he has had ``brief dialogue with three or four Premiership clubs''.

August 30 - Owen signs four-year deal with Newcastle, sealing £17million permanent transfer.

September 18 - Opens scoring in his second Magpies game - a 3-0 win at Blackburn - and follows up in the next game with winner against Manchester City at St James' Park.

October 12 - Takes England goal tally to 33 with first goal of the World Cup qualifier against Poland - equalling Gary Lineker's competitive record of 22 for England.

December 17 - Scores first hat-trick for Newcastle in 4-2 win at West Ham.

December 31 - Breaks metatarsal bone in defeat at Tottenham and is ruled out for ``several months''.

2006: March 24 - Newcastle announce Owen requires surgery to tighten the screw inserted into his foot during the initial operation.

June 20 - Regains fitness to take his place at the World Cup but injures his knee in first minute of group game against Sweden in Cologne and is immediately replaced. Ruled out for at least nine months.

2007: April 15 - Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd says Newcastle may seek an injunction to stop Owen playing for England in the Euro 2008 qualifier against Estonia in June.

April 30 - Owen makes first competitive start in over 10 months, playing the full 90 minutes as Newcastle lose 1-0 to Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

September 29 - Owen undergoes a hernia operation, which proves such a success he is expected to return to action in time for England's Euro 2008 games.

2008: January 19 - Appointed Newcastle captain by new manager Kevin Keegan.

2009: May - Finishes the season with 10 goals as Newcastle are relegated from the Premier League on the final day.

June 22 - Confirms that he will not be renewing his contract with Newcastle.

July 1 - Becomes a free agent after his Newcastle contract runs out.

July 3 - Reports link Owen with free transfer to Manchester United and he later signs a two-year contract with the champions after passing medical tests.

August - Makes United league debut as a substitute against Birmingham, scoring a first competitive goal against Wigan six days later.

September 22 - Claims a dramatic winner in the sixth minute of injury time to seal a 4-3 win over local rivals Manchester City.

end Í