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Tickets were changing hands for hundreds of pounds outside Manchester City's stadium.

Some queues to get in the nearby pubs were 50 meters long (164ft) and there were no outdoor big screens.

That was the situation at kick-off if you were without a match ticket at the Etihad.

On the concourse outside a group of fans sat around a radio and listened as Manchester United scored.

It looked like Manchester City were going to throw the title away and the pre-printed Champions 2012 shirts looked like they could turn into dish-cloths sooner than expected.

One of the thousands who'd turned up at the stadium without a ticket were Alex Baker and Miles Holt, both 21.

"It doesn't matter about the ticket," said Miles.

"I want to be here for the history of ending 44 years with a title."

"My dad was 14 when we last won it," added Alex "and that was a long time ago."

After queuing outside one bar for 20 minutes, with everyone on their phones checking the score, the lads decide it's better to head back into town as the police have gone in the bar and say it's overcrowded.

It's now a jog of about a mile and a half back towards the city centre, through the industrial and housing areas that surround the stadium, to find a bar.

Once inside, there are only City fans, and by this point they are miserable.

Even the barman dropping a glass doesn't get a cheer.

As stoppage time hits and the goals go in it turns into a party, with beer flying in all directions.

"It doesn't get any better than this," said Alex with a tear in his eye.

"Normally as a City fan you expect us to throw it all away, but this team doesn't give up.

"We're like, dare I say it, what that team across town was like."

As the final whistle went there was still time to jog the mile and a half back up to the stadium and celebrate.

Kirsty Collins, 20, is outside.

She said: "The last five minutes were the most tense I've ever watched. It was mind-blowing. That's why I love football."

As the stadium starts to empty the lads head through the open gates inside the stadium.

"What a day. I've lost my voice from screaming," said Miles.

"I'm supposed to be heading back to Leeds to uni but I've messed my bus, but I don't care."

Thousands of fans are still inside more than an hour after the game finished.

They're celebrating City pulling back an eight point deficit in five weeks to clinch the Premier League

"This is the best day of my life," added Miles.

"I'm knackered, I even feel sunburnt in Manchester. But it doesn't get any better than this."