EMANUEL Pogatetz will happily pile even more pressure on Stuart Pearce's shoulders this weekend - just to prove Middlesbrough can focus on two things at once.

The whole of the town are excited about Monday's FA Cup quarter-final replay with Manchester United, while today's visit of Manchester City has turned into more of a nuisance fixture in many people's eyes.

However, Pogatetz is determined to ensure the players are not in a similar frame of mind and he points to the prospect of a top-seven place as a realistic motivational tool to use ahead of kick-off today.

Success over City could see Middlesbrough move to within four points of seventh place, which would be sufficient for either a UEFA Cup or an Inertoto Cup place next season.

"We have to prepare for the Manchester City game, just as we did for the Manchester United game last Monday," said Pogatetz. "It's still vital for us that we win if we have any dreams of getting into a European place.

"Once Saturday is out of the way then maybe we can look to Monday, but only then. It will be simple, or it should be, for the players that are picked against City to be in the right frame of mind.

"We all know the importance of the replay at Old Trafford, so there does not need to be much preparation for that because we all know everyone will run their socks off.

"But there should be just as much focus on Saturday's game because if we can go on a good run between now and the end of the season then we could get into that top seven. Everyone should be aware of that."

While Middlesbrough continue to make progress under manager Gareth Southgate, today's opponents are in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.

City hover perilously close to the relegation zone, just six points above the drop line and with Charlton and Watford showing some signs of recovery.

The FA Cup defeat to Blackburn six days ago brought angry confrontations between players and disgruntled fans, although the narrow defeat to Chelsea - their fifth Premiership reversal in a row - did lighten the mood a little.

But Pogagetz, knowing it is being predicted Southgate's friend Pearce will go if Boro win, said: "What is happening to Stuart Pearce does not concern us.

"It's Middlesbrough against Manchester City and all of the teams in the Premiership are capable of beating each other, that's it.

"Whether a manager is under pressure or he could lose his job doesn't come into it."