Welcome to Squeaky Bum Time

The two Manchester clubs find themselves locked together on 83 points at the summit of the Premier League standings following City's 1-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium last night. The next fortnight is fraught with danger as the title race reaches its conclusion. This really is Squeaky Bum time.

Sunday 6th May 2012
Newcastle United v Man City
Newcastle United are the form team of the Premier League having amassed 14 points from their last six home fixtures and winning five of their previous six away ties. Alan Pardew's side suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat at Wigan Athletic last time out and the Toon Army will demand a reaction from their players when City visits St. James' Park at the weekend. Newcastle's hopes of finishing in the top four suffered a huge setback at the DW Stadium and a difficult away fixture at a resurgent Chelsea on Wednesday evening is unlikely to help the Magpies cause.
Vincent Kompany's headed goal saw off Manchester United on Monday night and the stern look on the City players faces at full time left no one in any doubt that Roberto Mancini's men remain fully focused on claiming the title. A similar resolute and committed display is needed from Mancini's team otherwise all the good work in seeing off Manchester United for the second time this season will come undone.
Man United v Swansea
On paper at least, Manchester United's final home Premier League fixture of the season looks a foregone conclusion against a Swansea team with little to play for but pride. Alex Ferguson also has the added advantage of kicking-off shortly after City's fixture with Newcastle has ended, heaping further pressure on Roberto Mancini's team to get a result before their rivals take to the Old Trafford pitch. United laboured for long spells during their 1-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium on Monday night and will require more of a cutting edge in the final third to see off Swansea.
The Swans’ away form makes for terrible reading with four wins, four draws and ten losses recorded outside of Wales. Yet United could be in for a difficult afternoon if they begin slowly or fail to adequately close down their opponents. Swansea's ability to retain possession for long stretches could make for an uncomfortable 90 minutes if United are not firing on all cylinders.


Sunday 13th May 2012
Sunderland v Man Utd
Man City v QPR
Assuming both Manchester United and Manchester City come through their penultimate fixtures unscathed then the final day of the season will see Alex Ferguson travelling north to take on Martin O'Neill's Sunderland in search of nothing less than three points at the Stadium of Light.
Roberto Mancini's City has the advantage of a home fixture against relegation threatened QPR on the same afternoon suggesting United will be under greater pressure to get a result on a ground they could only eek out a 0-0 draw last season.
The sides last met in the league back in November when a Wes Brown own goal proved the difference in a tight encounter edged 1-0 by the Red Devils. Ex-United players with a point to prove is certain to be another worry for Ferguson with Brown, John O'Shea, Phil Bardsley, Kieran Richardson and Frazier Campbell currently plying their trade in Sunderland colours. Martin O'Neill is being mentioned as a possible successor to Ferguson and will want to finish the Black Cats season on a high. It is undeniable that Manchester United lost a lot of momentum following the recent 1-0 defeat to Wigan Athletic and must now call on all their experience of previous title-winning campaigns to safely negotiate the final two fixtures otherwise their noisy neighbours will become even louder with a Premier League title to shout about.

Follow Ger on Twitter @germccarthy74

Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/5P19aVqDWSI/post.aspx

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