SAM Allardyce is hoping Manchester City can do Wanderers a big favour on Sunday.

A victory for Kevin Keegan's side against West Ham at Maine Road will almost certainly cement Wanderers' place in the Premiership - if Whites fail to do it for themselves against Arsenal.

City are in upbeat mood for the game despite having had nothing to play for since victory over Fulham on January 28. That win put them on 37 points and virtually assured them of Premiership football next season. But they hit the comfort zone after that and took just four points from the next seven games.

A switch from a wing back system to a flat back four has paid off handsomely in the last three games in which City have taken seven points and not conceded a goal.

Allardyce will be at Maine Road willing City on in person if his Wanderers side manage to beat Arsenal.

But he does not believe City will need any extra backing from anybody.

"We would love them to do us a big favour," he admitted. "But Kevin Keegan will want to do it for himself.

"He was bitterly disappointed two or three weeks ago when things weren't going right for them. But they seem to have turned the corner.

"I watched them against Spurs and they did a very professional job and they did so again against Sunderland.

"Their season has been over for a while but they will still be looking to finish on a high and respectable a place in the Premiership as they can.

"There is also the point Graeme Souness made last week that we would rather keep the North West clubs in the Premiership.

"That keeps all the derbies and rivalries which help to fill the stadiums."