Manchester United defender Patrice Evra has paid tribute to his side after their "massive" win over Manchester City.

After Yaya Toure and Pablo Zabaleta had cancelled out a Wayne Rooney brace, Robin van Persie struck a deflected free kick in the dying moments to give United a 3-2 win at the Etihad Stadium.

Despite their victory and now sitting six points above second-placed City at the top of the Premier League, Evra knows that they still have a long way to go yet.

"I don't know why we like to excite in the game like this and win in the last minute but in the end we win and that's the most important thing," said Evra. "It's a derby and when you play a derby it's for winning not just for playing. We couldn't go away with only a draw.

"It's three massive points today. But there's a long way to go, I remember last year we went eight points clear and in the end we lost the league.

"But psychologically it was really important to win against City but it's not done yet."

United host Sunderland in their next match on Saturday.