In Pictures: Manchester City’s road to glory

City began their bid to dethrone reigning champions United in August with a confident 5-1 rout of Tottenham at White Hart Lane, above, as well as wins against Bolton and Swansea. But United finished the month in top spot thanks in part to an 8-2 demolition of Arsenal [GETTY]

September saw easy wins over Wigan Athletic and Everton to keep City in the title chase but their 100 per cent record ended with a draw at Fulham. Meanwhile United(***)s Wayne Rooney kept the pressure on with a hat-trick against Bolton and United cruised to a 3-1 victory against Chelsea. A draw at Stoke however halted United(***)s winning run leaving them top only on goal difference [EPA]

At the end of September star striker Carlos Tevez temporarily parted ways with the club after a touchline meltdown against Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Put on ‘gardening leave’, with manager Roberto Mancini saying Tevez would never play for the club again, City put the drama aside with big wins against Blackburn and Villa in October, taking top spot after United drew at Liverpool [GETTY]

And if there were any doubts about City’s title aspirations they inflicted United’s worst home defeat since 1955 in October with an astonishing 6-1 victory, including two goals from controversial striker Mario Balotelli, to go five points clear [GETTY]

City continued their charge in November. Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure played a pivotal role with a late goal earning a 3-2 win at QPR but United showed they had not given up the chase with wins over Sunderland and Swansea. However Demba Ba(***)s controversial penalty gave 10-man Newcastle a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford to allow City to maintain their five-point lead following a draw at Liverpool [GETTY]

December was a woeful month for both United and City who crashed out of the European Champions League. City’s unbeaten record in the league came to an end as Frank Lampard’s late penalty gave Chelsea a 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge. By the time City drew 0-0 at West Brom, second-placed United moved level on points heading into the second half of the season [GETTY]

Not a terrific start to 2012 either as Sunderland claimed a stoppage-time goal to win 1-0 on New Year’s Day and Mancini(***)s side, who were also eliminated from the FA Cup and League Cup by United and Liverpool respectively, lost at Everton. United did not take advantage with a loss to Newcastle before three successive wins to end the month level on points with City [GETTY]

In February Mancini(***)s men got back on track as Fulham, Aston Villa and Blackburn were beaten without a single goal conceded by City’s defence. United drew 3-3 in a thriller at Chelsea and a 2-1 win over Liverpool and victory at Norwich City kept United within two points of City [GETTY]

City slipped in March with a 1-0 defeat at Swansea and a draw at Stoke denting their title charge. The controversial return of Tevez inspired a 2-1 win over Chelsea but Sunderland held on for a 3-3 draw at Eastlands to end City’s 100 percent home record. Meanwhile United continued their charge with four consecutive victories, leaving them two points clear of their title rivals with a game in hand [GETTY]

With only two months left City slumped to defeat at Arsenal in April prompting Mancini to concede the title to United, who beat Blackburn and QPR to move eight points clear with only six games remaining [GETTY]

But April 11 brought a change as United slumped to defeat at Wigan and City crushed West Brom. United responded by beating Aston Villa but City kept pace as Tevez(***)s treble inspired a 6-1 win at Norwich. Momentum shifted back to City who beat Wolves after United drew with Everton. City took advantage when Kompany headed home moving them top on goal difference [GETTY]

In May Yaya Toure put City within touching distance of the title as the midfielder scored twice to secure a vital 2-0 win at in-form Newcastle. United replied with a 2-0 victory over Swansea and beat Sunderland 1-0 on the last day, but City ended their long title wait with two goals in second-half stoppage time to beat QPR 3-2 and sparked wild celebrations at Eastlands [GETTY]