Joe Hart has urged Manchester City's players to step up and end a poor run of recent form in Sunday's derby with Manchester United.

The Barclays Premier League champions have been inconsistent this term and face their rivals at the Etihad Stadium having failed to win their last three matches in all competitions. After surrendering a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at CSKA Moscow in the UEFA Champions League, City slumped to a 2-1 loss at West Ham in the Barclays Premier League last weekend and sit six points behind leaders Chelsea. Manuel Pellegrini's men also saw their defence of the League Cup ended on Wednesday with a surprise 2-0 home defeat against Newcastle United.

City are therefore under pressure to bounce back in the 168th Manchester derby and Hart is aware improvement is required.

"Not everyone is exactly at their peak just now," said the goalkeeper. "We just need a few players, myself included, to step up and it [City's confidence] will come back."

City can take heart from the fact they have won five of their last six Barclays Premier League encounters with United. Pellegrini oversaw a 4-1 victory in the corresponding fixture last September and feels another triumph can ease doubts over City's present form.

"The game we played here at the Etihad was in a moment when I was new here, when maybe there were a lot of doubts about the results," he said. "But I didn't change in my mind the way we had to play against every team."

City's recent struggles have taken some of the spotlight away from United manager Louis van Gaal, who is set to get his first taste of the Manchester derby. United have gone the past four matches unbeaten and claimed a morale-boosting 1-1 draw with Chelsea last time out thanks to Robin van Persie's last-gasp leveller.

United's recent record against City may not provide great cause for optimism, but Van Gaal believes his team are capable of bucking the trend.

"That is our goal, to win," he said. "It is possible. We are growing, we are developing ourselves.

"What we have seen of City in the last few matches was not so good. You never know."

Van Gaal confirmed on Friday that he is set to restore Wayne Rooney to his starting XI after the United and England captain completed a three-match suspension. Antonio Valencia (hamstring) could also return but Radamel Falcao has failed to shake off a knock and joins Jonny Evans (ankle) on the sidelines, while Phil Jones (shin) is doubtful.

City are without David Silva due to a knee injury sustained against Newcastle. Frank Lampard (thigh) is another absent midfielder, but Yaya Toure should play despite a groin complaint.

Manchester City (from): Caballero, Hart, Wright, Boyata, Clichy, Demichelis, Kolarov, Kompany, Mangala, Nastasic, Sagna, Zabaleta, Fernandinho, Fernando, Milner, Nasri, Navas, Sinclair, Toure, Aguero, Dzeko, Jovetic.

Manchester United (from): Amos, De Gea, Johnstone, Lindegaard, Blackett, Blind, Jones, Rafael, Rojo, Shaw, Smalling, Vermijl, Carrick, Di Maria, Fellaini, Fletcher, Herrera, James, Januzaj, Mata, Valencia, Young, W Keane, Rooney, Van Persie, Wilson.
http://m.premierleague.com/en-gb/matches/2014-2015/epl.summary.html/man-city-vs-man-utd

I see Manchester United being trashed will goals from Aguero and Nasri.
Man City is the real deal on match day.

Judgment day.

.

deeobserver209:
I see Manchester United being trashed will goals from Aguero and Nasri.
Man City is the real deal on match day.

i dont pray for Aguero to score except if costa bangs in hat-trick 2moro i prefer silva and jovetic

Op Haba
O boi even mummy water no fit beat u to this
U dn win oya carry 3 point
Abi mak I give u cup join?

pamcode:
.i dont pray for Aguero to score except if costa bangs in hat-trick 2moro i prefer silva and jovetic

which club you be man?

seydam21:
which club you be man?

i support chelsea of course y do u ask

chimerase2:
Op Haba
O boi even mummy water no fit beat u to this
U dn win oya carry 3 point
Abi mak I give u cup join?

boss what do u mean o

pamcode:
i support chelsea of course y do u ask

you must be a fool/insane for you to create topic for man utd.....see this bloody haters. how many times did u see manu fans create a topic for chelsea?? Meeeenh you be slave oo, abi you think oga seun will paid you off becuz of it na mumu you be ...get lost

#GGMU!!! Red devil will survive

seydam21:
you must be a fool/insane for you to create topic for man utd.....see this bloody haters. how many times did u see manu fans create a topic for chelsea?? Meeeenh you be slave oo, abi you think oga seun will paid you off becuz of it na mumu you be ...get lost

#GGMU!!! Red devil will survive

imagine this idiot o this is not a man u thread bt a mancity vs man u thread and if u check am the one that usually opens mancity thread for epl and ucl so get the hell out of here peacefully, besides rival fans open threads for rival clube.g luvola opens thread for chelsea

pamcode:
imagine this idiot o this is not a man u thread bt a mancity vs man u thread and if u check am the one that usually opens mancity thread for epl and ucl so get the hell out of here peacefully, besides rival fans open threads for rival clube.g luvola opens thread for chelsea

luvola was mature more than that nw, when last do you see him create a thread for chelsea or manu??.....meanwhile, chelsea fans has accused him for doing that o. Just ask him tho! Perhaps, you re not mancity fans right??..... Cut off your hands on manutd thread xcept you do comment

#luvola sorry for mentionin ur name jare na dis guy dey cause am
#peace

seydam21:
luvola was mature more than that nw, when last do you see him create a thread for chelsea or manu??.....meanwhile, chelsea fans has accused him for doing that o. Just ask him tho! Perhaps, you re not mancity fans right??..... Cut off your hands on manutd thread xcept you do comment

#luvola sorry for mentionin ur name jare na dis guy dey cause am
#peace

okay i understand, this will be the last i will open

pamcode:
.i dont pray for Aguero to score except if costa bangs in hat-trick 2moro i prefer silva and jovetic

You are right. I didn't know Aguero was also a joint top scorer when I made the comment. A goal from Kompany would be better.
I believe Diego Costa will finish the season as a top scorer in EPL.

deeobserver209:
You are right. I didn't know Aguero was also a joint top scorer when I made the comment. A goal from Kompany would be better.
I believe Diego Costa will finish the season as a top scorer in EPL.

man city go thrash utd. neither aguero nor costa will finish top scorer. injury wont permit both

ednut1:
man city go thrash utd. neither aguero nor costa will finish top scorer. injury wont permit both

iwo wii....

I think nothing is going to be tough about the match......I see man city trashing man u...mercilessly...like 4-0..

ednut1:
man city go thrash utd. neither aguero nor costa will finish top scorer. injury wont permit both

Time would tell.

Its gonna be a win for United from a Chelsea fan!!

mk dm draw jawe, xo that the both of them can slip bakward....who cares


from a CHELSEA DIE HARD FANZ

Illness:
Its gonna be a win for United from a Chelsea fan!!

abeg noooo manure fans no go gree me hear word
Maybe draw will be ok

chimerase2:
abeg noooo manure fans no go gree me hear word
Maybe draw will be ok

chimerase2:
abeg noooo manure fans no go gree me hear word
Maybe draw will be ok

it doesn't concern u bro na their brother dem beat. Lol

Woman utd abeg win man shitty 4 me,make em nor dey pursue me again

*enters**lock up' no mind anybody's comments* UP MANCHESTER UTD?

make dem draw jare

ginajet:
make dem draw jare

And why must they draw?

hatux:
And why must they draw?

question for the gods dey must draw jare

hatux:
*enters**lock up' no mind anybody's comments* UP MANCHESTER UTD?

draw draw draw draw draw draw

City 2 United 4
my prediction

ginajet:
draw draw draw draw draw draw

Lol .. Let's wait till tomorrow then' we don't need to argue this out. But I sure knows my one and only favorite club wins tomorrow's match...

ginajet:
question for the gods dey must draw jare

Abeg' which club do you support? I mean your club team....

Yustash001:
I think nothing is going to be tough about the match......I see man city trashing man u...mercilessly...like 4-0..

after Chelsea won us 5-0 now dey said man city will give us 4-0 , silly set of confused Chelsea fan, hating ur boss will make u his inferior for life, oya na bring on d 4-0 meanwhile Rooney go play #GGMU

Djhack1:
after Chelsea won us 5-0 now dey said man city will give us 4-0 , silly set of confused Chelsea fan, hating ur boss will make u his inferior for life, oya na bring on d 4-0 meanwhile Rooney go play #GGMU

last season when dem nack u 3-0 and 4-1 home and away....u didn't see den o....well let's wait and see...