Mancini wary of Magpies challenge

Roberto Mancini has described Manchester City's game at Newcastle as 'our hardest game' and likened it to 'a Champions League final'.

The City boss has seen his team make up an eight-point deficit to rivals Manchester United over the Easter weekend to now lead the Premier League on goal difference from their near neighbours with two matches remaining. However, after watching Newcastle, who City travel to face at the Sports Direct Arena this weekend, keep their top-three aspirations alive with a 2-0 win at Chelsea on Wednesday, the Italian tactician is anticipating a tough clash for his players. Mancini, who hailed his City side's display in Monday's narrow 1-0 win against United at the Etihad Stadium, said: "Newcastle will be our hardest game - harder than United. It is strange but it is like this. "They have had a fantastic season and are playing to get into the Champions League. "Their manager is one of the best managers here and it will be a tough game. "It is another Champions League final on Sunday. We have two - Newcastle and QPR. "We have to keep a big concentration until May 13." Mancini feels Manchester City must win their final two matches because he fully expects Sir Alex Ferguson's side to keep the pressure on by defeating Swansea at Old Trafford and Sunderland away in their run-in. He added: "We have done nothing yet. We are at the top but we need to win two games. "We need to play well and we need to score if we want to win. They will get six points. "We are happy for the crowd but it is important our supporters do not think it is finished. We need to be very calm. "We need to concentrate on the next game, work well, recover. "The message is to keep calm, like one and two weeks ago. Nothing has changed."