Barely midway through March, the buzz around the Etihad has diminished and the hopes of Manchester City lifting silverware this season are hanging by a thread.

Manchester United’s 3-0 battering of Tottenham has led coach Louis van Gaal to say he believes the Red Devils are capable of overtaking local rivals Manchester City.

Manchester City midfielder Frank Lampard singled out the threat of England hopeful Danny Ings ahead of his side’s Premier League clash with Burnley.

A defiant Manchester City fan has taken a 21st century stand against manager Manuel Pellegrini – by promising that he won’t tweet again until the Chilean has waved ‘adios’ to the Etihad.

City have a full squad available for tomorrow’s league tie against Leicester City at The Etihad and currently sit five points behind leaders Chelsea as they attempt to secure back-to-back top flight crowns.

City, after their damaging loss to Liverpool, remain five points behind Chelsea who have a game in hand after their Capital One Cup victory on Sunday, which Pellegrini believes they can peg back.

While City boss while Pellegrini may have made a huge pre-match tactical blunder starting Fernando, bringing on Fernandinho after an hour was an inspired decision despite the 2-1 scoreline.

City, bereft of any inspiration all season apart from their painfully last-gasp qualification for the Champions League knockout stages, have no chance of progressing past Barcelona this year.

It is almost beyond credibility how dramatically Manchester City’s formed has declined since Yaya Toure departed for the Africa Cup of Nations, with three draws and two defeats in that time.

Man City have now won just one of their last five league games in the absence of Ivorian Toure and were facing a 1-0 defeat until a stoppage-time James Milner free kick rescued a point.

City host Hull City at The Etihad on Saturday afternoon and sit five points behind Jose Mourinho’s men after the sides drew 1-1 last week.