Victory over West Ham gives David Moyes confidence ahead of Manchester City clash

David Moyes is confident Manchester United have found form in time to win the Manchester derby after a make-shift side won comfortably at West Ham on Saturday.

Manchester City will arrive at Old Trafford on Tuesday 12 points ahead of the hosts, who were beaten 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium in September in Moyes’ first derby assignment as Alex Ferguson’s successor.

City thrashed Fulham 5-0 on Saturday before United’s 2-0 win at West Ham, which saw Wayne Rooney score both goals – the first one from almost 60 yards – and Michael Carrick play as an emergency centre-half.

Both sides will be missing top-class forwards on Tuesday as City’s Sergio Aguero is injured, as is United’s Robin van Persie, but Moyes could also be without key defenders through injury as Rio Ferdinand, Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling were ruled out of the West Ham game.

Moyes, who will be able to welcome back captain Nemanja Vidic following suspension, was nonetheless hopeful victory in east London, which followed an aggregate win over Olympiakos in the Champions League last week, would be preparation enough for such an important game.

“You can see that we are playing better and there is a bit more belief coming back,” he said. “We will have to keep showing that if we can.

“We scored three at West Bromwich, against Olympiakos we scored three and we’ve got a couple today so we are showing signs of doing better.