Manchester City will take a narrow lead to Old Trafford for next Wednesday’s second leg of this League Cup semi-final, after a pulsating encounter at Eastlands.

Former United striker Carlos Tevez scored both City goals, the best possible response to the stick he received from United fans and management since moving across Manchester in the summer.

United had largely controlled matters until a controversial penalty award by referee Mike Dean, which set up a rip-roaring second period.

City were as grateful to goalkeeper Shay Given as Tevez. He won a one-on-one battle with Wayne Rooney, the only United player to perform up to standard on the night.

But a repeat of the 4-3 scoreline to United when the sides met in the EPL at Old Trafford in September will send the blue half of Manchester to Wembley on away goals.

United were comfortable in the opening quarter and took a deserved lead on 17 minutes, Ryan Giggs tapping in from two yards after Given had saved Rooney’s close-range effort from an Antonio Valencia cross.

Tevez should have equalised six minutes later but headed Shaun Wright-Phillips’ fine right-wing cross off-target.

However, he did equalise from the spot, three minutes before the interval. Craig Bellamy was fouled twice by young United right-back Rafael da Silva, the second, according to Dean, as Bellamy entered the box.

Tevez smashed the ball high to keeper Edwin Van der Sar’s left as the Dutchman went the wrong way.

The winner arrived on 65 minutes, Tevez heading in from close-range after Pablo Zabaleta and Vincent Kompany worked the ball back into the danger area from a half-cleared corner.

Van der Sar saved well from Wright-Phillips on 70 minutes, but Given dominated the closing stages.

He denied Rooney three times and was grateful to substitute Nedum Onuoha for a goalline clearance when a Michael Owen shot was deflected past him.