Funny the way things turn out. Normally for City the Derby is the biggest game of the year. Win it, especially sweep as Sven did, and City fans are a fairly content lot. Completely outplay United as was the case a couple of seasons ago and a warm afterglow permeates the summer off season.

And this year. Doesn't matter.

Don't get me wrong, I want the team to win and in fact that would help tremendously in the battle for seventh place, but it is next weeks game against Spurs that is much more important.

Fulham could win out making all of this moot, but as the season comes to a conclusion it is City with United and Spurs away and Bolton at home and Spurs with City at home and Liverpool away that would appear to be in the drivers seat for the Europa League spot.

While any kind of a result against United would be useful, the season will almost certainly turn on the clash at White Hart Lane. Yes there is a scenario where City draw with United, Spurs beat City and then City win against Bolton while Spurs lose at Liverpool but there's a Hollywood script in play in that game already where Robbie Keane scores to get Spurs at least a point.

Fulham and West Ham are certainly not out of it. The Hammers should defeat Middlesbrough at home but it would be asking a lot to get something from a trip to Goodison Park against Everton.

Everton are also the common opponent of Fulham, although the Cottagers entertain them at home and play Newcastle away which I've pegged as a Newcastle win for some time now feeling that victories against Boro on Monday and Fulham the following week will be enough to see the Toon escape relegation at the expense of West Brom, Boro and Hull.

Incredibly we have the potential of the exact same scenario as 2005 when West Brom completed their "Great Escape." Going into the final weekend no one team had been relegated and any three from four could go down. It is certainly shaping up to be a carbon copy of that situation this year as well and while I find the chance of West Brom staying up unlikely a repeat of what may have been the most exciting day in Premier League history would be most welcome.

Going to be a fascinating couple of weeks. But next week is the key, not later today.