Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is confident rivals Manchester United will drop points to maintain his side within the Premier League title race.
After City drew 3-3 with Sunderland, United will go five points clear on the top in the event that they win at Blackburn on Monday.
"i feel on Monday United will probably do a draw," said Mancini. "Eight games is sufficient to do two draws. United can arrive in a tricky moment.
"Until we've some extent to win this league we're going to try 100%."
TITLE RUN-IN
| Blackburn (a) | 2 Apr/31 Mar | Sunderland (h) |
| QPR (h) | 8 Apr | Arsenal (a) |
| Wigan (a) | 11 Apr | West Brom (h) |
| Aston Villa (h) | 15/14 Apr | Norwich (a) |
| Everton (h) | 22 Apr | Wolves (a) |
| Man City (a) | 30 Apr | Man Utd (h) |
| Swansea (h) | 6 May | Newcastle (a) |
| Sunland (a) | 13 May | QPR (h) |
The outcome leaves City second on 71 points with seven games left, while United lead on 73 points with eight to play.
However the Red Devils have won only two in their last eight league visits to Ewood Park and Mancini predicts they'll falter again.
"That's hard but we have now another seven games," stated the Italian. "Until we've got some extent to win this league we can try 100%.
"We've done some mistakes within the last games but in addition United can arrive in a tough moment. It is crucial we're there.
"Before the derby [on 30 April] it is necessary we recover two points.
Mancini described the Sunderland match as a "crazy game, very emotional" after City came from 3-1 all the way down to snatch some degree.
Sebastian Larsson slotted Sunderland ahead before Mario Balotelli - who Mancini claimed he might need substituted after just five minutes - equalised from the penalty spot.
Nicklas Bendtner headed the visitors back in front moments before half-time and Larsson tapped in his second after the break.
But after Balotelli and Aleksandar Kolarov had argued over who should take a free-kick, Balotelli hauled City back into contention on 85 minutes and Kolarov made it 3-3 with a fierce strike a minute later.
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Draw seems like a defeat - ONeill
"i feel it's the correct result, a draw, but we didnt do an excellent performance," Mancini commented.
"i'm happy just for the last 10 minutes, for the opposite 80 minutes i'm unhappy because we didnt play okay. I dont know why.
"Within the first half we were flat and in a game like this, this is important for us, we cant be flat within the first half.
Waiting for next Sundays trip to Arsenal, Mancini added: "Im sure that we are going to do better than today.
"We missed [striker Sergio] Aguero and for that reason i'm disappointed. i'm hoping he can recover for the subsequent game.
Sunderland boss Martin ONeill suggested there has been lots of life within the title race yet.
"City are a top-quality team," he said.
"There'll be twists and turns before end of the season and United still ought to visit us at the final day of the season."
From WhatNewsToday.net
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