• Premier League

We'll take title in front of City's own fans - Rooney

Wayne Rooney and Manchester United are in the driving seat in the race for the title © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Toure denies Balotelli bust-up claims
  
• News: Manchester derby will be decisive - Ferguson
  
• News: United's title before Manchester derby - Neville
  
• News: Vidic never lost faith in United
  
• Profile: Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney says he wants to humiliate rivals Manchester City by beating them on their own patch to secure Manchester United a 20th league title.

United have won seven league matches in succession to open up a five-point lead over City at the top of the table with seven games to go.

Should the two clubs match each other's results over the next four fixtures, United will have the opportunity to retain their crown in the derby at the Etihad Stadium on April 30.

Although United got the better of City in their own backyard in the third round of the FA Cup, a 6-1 mauling at the hands of their neighbours at Old Trafford in October is still fresh in the mind.

However, Rooney - who has scored 21 goals in the league this season - is confident Sir Alex Ferguson's side can travel to City's backyard and silence the home crowd.

"We're certainly good enough to beat them there," he said in the Sun. "We showed that when we beat them 3-2 in the FA Cup in January. They have a great home record in the league but we managed to get the result there in the Cup. That shows we can go there and win. We just have to be ourselves and play our normal football.

"We'll take full confidence into that game and hopefully we can get the three points. We'll approach it as we do any normal game. There are three points up for grabs and we'll be trying to get them. We won't be doing anything different."

Ferguson has challenged his players to get maximum points from the 12 on offer before United meet City.

He said: "We play several games before we get there. Hopefully we can navigate those games and win them and see where that takes us. It was always going to be a massive game."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.