Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini adopted a cautious approach after a 2-0 victory at Newcastle left his side on the brink of a first English title in 44 years.
Yaya Toure’s two goals at St James’ Park on Sunday left visitors City top of the Premier League table heading into the final round of matches on May 13.
City, who haven’t lost at home in the league all season, now welcome strugglers QPR and will go into the match with a plus eight goal difference advantage over second-placed champions Manchester United, who beat Swansea City 2-0 later on Sunday.
Assuming City beat QPR, United would have to win by a huge margin away to Sunderland to deny their cross-town rivals a first English title since 1968.
But while United manager Sir Alex Ferguson suggested City had “two hands” on the trophy Mancini, who wrote off his team’s chances when they were eight points adrift of United a month ago, would only say: “Maybe we are the favourites now.
“But, in one game, things can change,” the Italian added.
“We should keep our concentration like we have done the last five weeks.
“I’m excited because we are top, but it’s not enough. If we play like we did here I think we have a fantastic chance to be champions.
“We’ve still got a difficult game against QPR on the last day.
“At least it doesn’t depend on Manchester United anymore, it depends on us, but we have another game.
“It won’t be easy because QPR are fighting against relegation. If we think we have won the Championship it will be a big mistake.”
Meanwhile Newcastle manager Alan Pardew is now convinced City will be crowned champions.
“The QPR game is one you would expect them to win,” he said.
“If I’m honest, City are the best team we have faced this season.”
The defeat damaged Newcastle’s chance of figuring in the Champions League next season, but they can finish in the top four if they win at Everton this coming Sunday and Tottenham and Arsenal slip up.
After seeing his side beat Swansea, Ferguson was left hoping former United striker and ex-City manager Mark Hughes, the QPR coach, could do the champions a favour.
“QPR need a point; you never know,” he said.
“I just wish Sparky (Hughes) was playing.”
Paul Scholes – brought out of retirement earlier this season – gave United a 28th-minute lead after turning in a shot from fellow midfielder Michael Carrick.
Four minutes before the break United had a second when Ashley Young’s low strike beat Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm.
Elsewhere, 10-man Tottenham Hotspur came from behind to claim a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa, who edged nearer top-flight survival.
Victory would have seen fourth-placed Tottenham leapfrog north London rivals Arsenal into third spot and a guaranteed place in the first round of next season’s Champions League.
At the bottom of the table, QPR moved two points clear of the relegation zone after Djibril Cisse’s 89th-minute winner secured a 1-0 win at home to Stoke City.
Hughes, looking ahead to the City match, said: “It would be a fantastic story if we were able to go there and get something. They are going for titles and we are trying to stay in this league.”
Bolton Wanderers remained in the bottom three after a 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion.
Elsewhere, Fulham beat mid-table rivals Sunderland 2-1 at Craven Cottage while already-relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers were held to a goalless draw at home to Everton.
