Smalling desperate to deny City title

Chris Smalling has admitted the Premier League title means more to Manchester United this season because it involves trying to deny City.

The neighbours have pulled clear of the pack now and last week Sir Alex Ferguson declared he had "plenty of ammunition" for a mind-games war, with Patrick Vieira very forcefully denying launching another salvo on Wednesday.

United now lead by three points but are likely to have been pegged back before they play again, though, as City entertain Sunderland two days before the Red Devils visit Blackburn on Monday. But Smalling has conceded United are thirsting for a record 20th crown, saying: "It definitely means more because it's City."

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