Vieira ready for hostile response but excited by City's challenge

Vieira, 33, was City's best player as they saw off Aston Villa 3-1 on Saturday and is now looking forward to Tottenham's visit on Wednesday.

The former Arsenal midfielder says he will relish being the target of Spurs fans' abuse at Eastlands – a win for the visitors would guarantee fourth spot for them but if City emerge victorious they should secure the place.

Vieira said: "It would be fantastic to beat them. I expect to get a bad reception from their fans but if we win the game that will be fine for me.

"It's always exciting to play against Tottenham but the focus will be on the three points.

"We are really close, we are getting there and I really believe with the help we have had from the fans we can do it against Spurs.

"The last two games can decide the whole season, so we've been working really hard and it would be a fantastic achievement for everyone at the club to play Champions League football."

Vieira admitted to having felt frustrated at his lack of opportunities since joining City in January but insists he is back close to his best.

He added: "I'm quite happy with my own performance. I feel like since I arrived at the club it has been quite a frustrating time.

"Hopefully I can keep playing like that and help the team achieve what they deserve.

"It was a great team performance against Villa, and we can be really proud. We had a difficult start but overall we controlled the game and deserved to win."

With Villa having played a game more than their rivals for fourth place in the Barclays Premier League, they knew only victory at the City of Manchester Stadium would keep their chances alive.

Things began well for Martin O'Neill's side when John Carew put them ahead in the 16th minute, forcing the ball under emergency loan goalkeeper Marton Fulop, and it stayed that way until four minutes from half-time.

Then a rash tackle from Stephen Warnock on Adam Johnson allowed Carlos Tevez to equalise from the penalty spot.

Carew immediately smashed a shot against the bar but City went down the other end and grabbed their second goal in three minutes when Johnson calmly set up Emmanuel Adebayor.

Villa pushed hard in the second half but could not break City's resistance and in the last minute substitute Shaun Wright-Phillips went on a speedy run down the left and set up Craig Bellamy who bent the ball expertly past Brad Friedel.