Rio Ferdinand has stoked the flames of the Manchester football rivalry by claiming City fans have "come out of the woodwork".
The Blues edged past Chelsea 2-1 on Tuesday night to keep within one point of leaders United, and their competitiveness since their 2008 takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group has seen a change in attire around the city according to the Reds defender.
"Walking around in town, you see more and more blue shirts than you probably ever would have seen over the last 10 years," the 33-year-old mused.
"But success sometimes brings people out of the woodwork. So fingers crossed we can delay that and make sure that we get this title sewn up this season."
United beat City in the Community Shield:
City led the league for five months until their defeat to Swansea two weeks ago culminated in United leapfrogging them after victory over West Brom.
The top two face one another on 30 April for the fourth derby of the season, but Ferdinand told BBC Sport he hopes it won't be pivotal.
"Who knows? We'll have to wait and see. In an ideal world, we'll have it sewn up by the time we go there. But I don't expect it to be finished by the time we go their stadium.
"Every game is a cup final now. Every result now is going to sway the title this way or that. If we win the games that we've got left, we win the league. But it's not as easy as that."
City stuff United 6-1:
United have won two of the three derby clashes this season but were annihilated 6-1 by City at Old Trafford in October. That was sandwiched in between the Red Devils registering two 3-2 wins in the Community Shield and the FA Cup.
City last became English champions in 1968, with United finishing second, however Sir Matt Busby's side overshadowed the Citizens' feat by winning the European Cup 18 days later.
The duo faced one another in last season's FA Cup semi-final, where Yaya Toure's second-half goal saw City return to Wembley to defeat Stoke City for their first major trophy in 35 years.
United have won 29 major trophies to City's two since the clubs' 1968 hegemony.
United struggle past 10-man City in the FA Cup: