Odion Ighalo has warned his Manchester United teammates to avoid a repeat of the mistakes in their FA Cup last 16 victory over Derby County last Thursday when they take on city rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford today.

Victory for 5th-placed United against 2nd-placed City could see the Red Devils move level on points with 4th-placed Chelsea depending on the Blues result against Everton in the early kickoff.

Although United scored an easy looking 3-0 victory over the Rams in the FA Cup at Pride Park, Ighalo who notched a brace was far from impressed with their overall play.

Derby had chances to score with former United captain and record scorer Wayne Rooney twice going close for the Rams.

With City likely to present a much sterner test, Ighalo who said he is looking ahead to his first Manchester Derby following his January move to Old Trafford from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua says the Red Devils have to be much improved on Sunday as they chase a place in the top four.

“It’s going to be a tough one, derby game is always tough,” Ighalo said after the match against Derby.

“This is my first derby I’m going to play so we are working hard, and we have to correct every mistakes some mistakes we did today we can’t afford to do it against City, so we are going to work hard then get ready for the game.”

United are currently on a nine-game unbeaten run and have won six games in that spell keeping seven clean sheets in the process.

The run, the longest they’ve enjoyed this season and the most since the 11 they managed following Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer’s initial appointment as caretaker manager, has coincided with Ighalo’s presence at Old Trafford alongside fellow newbie Bruno Fernandes.

The impact both signings have had on United is evident and Ighalo believes a newfound sense of community and self-belief has helped the scale new heights.

“It’s unity, hard work, positivity and every game we keep going we believe in ourselves and that is the most important thing.”