Silva has one eye on derby showdown

Manchester City playmaker David Silva is wary of arch–rivals Manchester United and accepts there is little room for error in the Premier League title race.

City strengthened their status as favourites when they won at Hull last weekend while leaders Chelsea slipped up at Aston Villa. The results left City trailing by only six points - with three games in hand.

Of those, the derby against fallen champions United at Old Trafford next Tuesday is starting to loom large.

Attention will shift fully to that game after tomorrow’s home clash with struggling Fulham and Silva admits City's proven superiority over United this season could count for little.

The Spaniard said: "A derby is a derby. At the moment we are better, but in any derby anything can happen. We have won there the last two years, and hopefully this will be the third one."

United, buoyed by their midweek Champions League victory over Olympiacos, will hope to improve their league position against resurgent West Ham in London tomorrow night.

They will be hoping for good news on Robin van Persie, carried off on a stretcher after suffering a leg injury, The results of a scan were due today.