MANCHESTER City will try to close the eight point gap behind Division One leaders Wolves tonight without Paulo Wanchope.

The Costa Rican striker has been ruled out with the knee injury which kept him out of the goalless draw at Walsall on Saturday and threatens to sideline him for Sunday's tough home clash with in-form Coventry.

Shaun Goater and Darren Huckerby will continue a front running partnership which has proved to be prolific during Wanchope's lengthy absences this season as City aim to capitalise on their three games in hand on Wolves and third placed West Brom who are two points behind after their defeat at Preston last night.

City are expected to name an unchanged side with Nicky Weaver and Richard Dunne continuing despite receiving their final warnings over their off-the-field conduct this week.

Manager Kevin Keegan is running short of patience with the pair and has able understudies in Carlo Nash and Lucien Mettomo chomping at the bit to replace them should the boss decide to make an example of the pair.

Tonight's game will be an emotional occasion with Paul Dickov bidding farewell to the fans before the game.

Dickov will always be fondly remembered as a modern day hero at Maine Road after scoring the most important goal in the club's recent history in the 95th minute of the 1999 Wembley play-off final which launched City on an amazing revival.