Virtual pre-match game between United and City invites supporters on Twitter to predict outcome of Manchester derby.

Today, Virgin Media, the TV, broadband, mobile and home phone company, has kicked off the pre-match excitement around the much anticipated Derby Day clash between United and City by launching a virtual game for football fans called ‘No Likey, No Lighty’.

The off-pitch contest is taking place through social media site, Twitter, and will culminate in the city’s iconic town hall being lit up by Virgin Media in United ‘Red’ and City ‘Blue’ lights. Virgin Media will show the Derby Day match live on Sky Sports 1 and is encouraging fans to tackle the big question of who will triumph by tweeting special hashtags for their favourite team.

The final whistle will be blown on the contest at 12pm on Sunday 7th April, then at 7.30pm, when the final tweets have been counted the town hall will be lit up in red and blue proportionately according to how many tweets each team received, revealing whether United or City fans have been victorious.

Ryan Adolpho, store manager at Virgin Media Manchester, Arndale said,

We are really excited about kick-starting the Derby Day excitement and offering fans the chance to score some pre-match bragging rights ahead of the real game on Monday.

You can keep an eye on the ball and see how your team is doing during the virtual battle by visiting virg.in/Manchesterderby. If you think United will win, tweet #VMred and if you think City will win, tweet #VMblue.

Adolpho added, “Football is a game of two halves, so whatever the result of our No Likey, No Lighty contest between United and City fans, we wish both teams the best of luck and can’t wait to tune in to Sky Sports 1 on Virgin TV to find out who triumphs on the day.”