WITH a healthy complement of former Manchester United players in his Sunderland squad, Martin O'Neill has dismissed any notion that the Stadium of Light will be the perfect place for Sir Alex Ferguson's Premier League title contenders to visit today.

United head for Wearside hoping for a result which would see them leapfrog table-topping neighbours Manchester City on the final day - if relegation candidates Queens Park Rangers can leave the Etihad Stadium with their own much-needed result.

It is a situation which has led to mind games being played by both Ferguson and his city counterpart Roberto Mancini.

Mancini had described Manchester United's final two games, against Swansea and Sunderland, as “easy” compared to his team's fixtures with Newcastle and QPR.

O'Neill, hoping to lead the Black Cats up to tenth place on the final day, thinks the Italian's off-the-pitch tactics should not have involved bringing up Sunderland.

The Sunderland boss, whose side defeated City on New Year's Day and then drew 3-3 in the return fixture, said: “We are bit part players and I totally understand that. We have a say in the title race so we may as well go for it.

“The City manager did say we were an easy game (long pause) and therefore he should have taken us more seriously because we have taken five points from his team this season.

“Swansea, another easy game apparently, took three points off them, so that’s eight points there he has lost. If in some way he was trying to take the pressure off his team then all well and good. He could have used different terminology.

“If he had won those two easy matches, then he would already have won the league – by eight points. United are going for a championship and are playing against a team who, in their own little word, have something to play for.”

Despite the professionalism within the Sunderland squad, there is likely to be a case of split loyalties before and after today's events on Wearside and in Manchester.

Phil Bardsley, John O'Shea and Fraizer Campbell – all products of the Old Trafford system – are all in line to be involved on an afternoon when City could win their first top-flight crown in 44 years.

Injured former Red Devils Kieran Richardson and Wes Brown will also be interested observers from the stands, but Bardsley insists all that will be on their minds when the action starts will be ending a run of eight games without a win.

The full-back, brought up in the United heartland of Salford, said: “It is unbelievable when you go to Manchester. I don’t get home that often but I was back a few weeks ago when United slipped up against Everton and straight after all the United fans were asking if we could do them a favour. Football doesn’t work like that.

“There is nothing better I would like than United winning the league, but it is going to be difficult for them because coming to our place is not going to be easy.

“I would be delighted if United won the league even though I’ve not been at the club for six years and they’ve won plenty of titles since I’ve left. I’ll always be a United fan, but first and foremost I have got to play for the club that pays my wages.

“If we were to get a result against United, so be it. If we don’t and City slip up, I’d be delighted for everyone at Old Trafford because of the way they go about the business and the way the manager keeps creating these sensational teams.”

If Manchester City defeat QPR then United will need to better their rivals' result by nine clear goals. It is not inconceivable that goal difference could prove the deciding factor.

O'Neill – who lost a title race on goal difference during his days in charge of Wycombe and then at Celtic in 2005 - believes such a way to lose a title race would seriously frustrate Ferguson.

“You just have to ask John O’Shea. Sir Alex will be the most disappointed man in Britain if they don’t do it,” said O'Neill. “To lose on goal-difference is a real blow.

“I have done it twice and you always think about it. I was with Wycombe when we lost out in the Vauxhall Conference to Colchester, when we were both on 94 points. It is terrible. The worst. All the missed chances of the season go through your head.”