LONDON (SE) - Two teams with little left to play for meet at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon, when Manchester City host West Ham United.
With Manchester United crowned as Premier League champions and Arsenal still five points behind in third, Roberto Mancini's Man City side (20-8-5) look odds-on to finish second in unspectacular fashion. However, the FA Cup final against Wigan Athletic looming on May 11 will make sure that City's players remain focussed.
"Having tasted success we obviously wanted to win the title again this year, but there are five or six clubs who started the season wanting to win the title as well and it's not always possible," said City captain Vincent Kompamy. "But our season also depends on our result in the Cup final and we shouldn't forget that."
West Ham (11-9-14) have gone five games unbeaten to pull clear of the relegation scrap, and Sam Allardyce's team are now targeting an unlikely top-half finish in their first season back in the Premier League.
"I think that I said from the very start that our goal was to try and finish around mid-table," said Allardyce. "I always felt that tenth was the highest possible position for this year. It would be great to try and achieve it. We're there with four games to go.
"We could easily lose our last four games or we could still continue our undefeated run. So we just look forward to Manchester City. First and foremost focus on that, concentrate on that, trying to give the best performance we possibly can and see whether that gets a result at a very difficult place to go and play football."
Man City have doubts over James Milner (hamstring) and David Silva (ankle), while West Ham are without James Tomkins (calf) and George McCartney (knee).
Mancini's side go into this game off a 3-1 defeat to Tottenham, but have not lost back-to-back Premier League games since October 2010. The Citizens have scored 13 goals in the four matches following defeats this season.
City have won six of their last seven at home, keeping clean sheets in all six wins, and have scored in 47 consecutive home league games.
West Ham have failed to win any of their last five games against Man City (losing three and drawing two), and are without a win in their last six trips to the Etihad.
City were held to a 0-0 draw by West Ham at Upton Park back in November. That game was the last time that the Hammers failed to score at home.
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