Manchester City’s overriding concern may be about finishing fourth in the Barclays Premier League this season, but Adam Johnson believes the prospect of effectively ending their bitter rivals’ title hopes will serve as an extra source of motivation in their eagerly awaited derby tomorrow.

Roberto Mancini, the Manchester City manager, has been fined £20, 000 after being found guilty of improper conduct in his clash with David Moyes at Eastlands last month. The fine is suspended until the end of the 2011/12 season.

Roberto Mancini is expected to earn a timely reprieve today before the Manchester derby by escaping a touchline ban for his bust-up with David Moyes, the Everton manager, last month.

A red letter day in the blue half of Manchester and, before next weekend’s little local skirmish, a few more things for Sir Alex Ferguson to growl and gurn over, including the relentless form of a certain centre forward.

Blackburn Rovers dealt Manchester United’s title hopes a black eye at Ewood Park yesterday. Could the stage now be set for Manchester City to deliver the knockout blow?