United ensure pursuit drags on

Even the perpetually cautious Roberto Mancini surely can’t now put up a convincing argument to suggest that Manchester United remain favourites for the title.

For weeks, the Manchester City manager has attracted increasing levels of ridicule for the way he has down-played his side’s hopes of looking down on the rest of English football at the end of the season for the first time in more than four decades.

However, despite decades of false hope and shattered dreams, even the most hard-bitten City follower, or conversely, even the most optimistic, rose-tinted spectacle-wearing United supporter, would have to expect a Blue Moon to rise on Sunday.