Substitute Michael Owen struck in the sixth minute of injury time to earn Manchester United a 4-3 Premier League win over Manchester City in one of the most dramatic derbies for years on Sunday.

Three times United led -- through Wayne Rooney and two Darren Fletcher headers -- but three times City fought back with a goal from Gareth Barry and two from Craig Bellamy, his second coming in the 90th minute, before Owen decided it.

"We gave three goals away today. It could have been an embarrassment, we could have won 6-0 or 7-0," United manager Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports

"But in the end we still we won one of the best Manchester derbies. We have a neighbour, and sometimes neighbours are noisy, but we showed our power today and we get on with life."

The win took United to 15 points -- alongside Chelsea, who host Tottenham Hotspur later on Sunday. City, who had won their first four league games, remain on 12, alongside Spurs and Liverpool, who won 3-2 at West Ham United on Saturday.

Sunday's Manchester derby between the champions and a big-spending City side with great expectations was one of the most-eagerly-awaited for years and it more than lived up to its billing.

United got off to a flyer after two minutes when Patrice Evra ran unmarked on to a quick throw and played the ball inside to Rooney, who showed quick feet to find space and score from close range.

City eventually settled and equalised after 16 minutes when former United player Carlos Tevez, roundly barracked by the home fans with every touch, showed the never-say-die attitude that so endeared him to them just a few months ago.

United goalkeeper Ben Foster tried to dribbled a loose ball back into his box but got caught in possession by the Argentine. Tevez then squared for Barry, who expertly clipped the ball into the one unguarded corner.

Tevez came close to making another impact at the end of the first half when, under pressure from Evra, he forced a shot against a post.

United capitalised on the escape in the 49th minute, Fletcher heading in a tempting Ryan Giggs cross, but the lead lasted only three minutes as City broke and Bellamy cut in from the left to unleash a superb rising shot into the top corner.

Shay Given produced an two excellent reaction saves to keep out Dimitar Berbatov headers and another to deny Giggs, who was on mesmerising form in his 30th Manchester derby.

United pressure paid off when Fletcher rose to head his second of the afternoon from a Giggs free kick 10 minutes from time.

Back City came again and everyone in the ground must have thought they had secured a point when a dreadful blunder by Rio Ferdinand let in Bellamy, who rounded Foster to score from the tightest of angles.

United were not done, though. With City manager Mark Hughes screaming for the final whistle, Giggs split the visiting defence with a perfectly-weighted pass for Owen, on as a 78th-minute substitute, to toe in the winner.

"It was always going to create noise when I joined but even if the fans didn't take to me you're never going to pass up an opportunity to play for a team like this," Owen told Sky Sports.

Ferguson, who caused many a raised eyebrow with his decsion to sign Owen after a lean spell at Newcastle, said: "He's adjusting to training, he's become sharper, he showed that sharpness against Besiktas. He's been doing very well."