City's title challenge has wilted in recent weeks and, having once been overwhelming favourites to finish top, Roberto Mancini's side now trail Manchester United by eight points with six games to go.

A derby meeting at the Etihad Stadium at the end of April still gives City hope of catching their arch-rivals, but the club can ill-afford to drop any more points before that game.

Milner, though, does not want City's campaign to finish with a whimper and is keen to get back on track at home to West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday night.

Learning

The England international said: "We just have to concentrate on ourselves.

"It is about learning as you go and taking the positives. It is important we step up now and finish the season strongly.

"We have not finished yet and will keep fighting until the end."

City appeared to suffer the decisive blow in the title race on Sunday as they were beaten at Arsenal and United beat Queens Park Rangers at home.

Milner said: "It was a big disappointment Sunday, and we need to pick ourselves up.

"So it is good to be playing again so quickly. We need to make sure we are firing and ready to go again."

Failure to win the title would be crushing for City after leading the table for most of the season but manager Mancini is also trying to keep his head up for the run-in.

The Italian said: "It is clear that we need to start to win and we start on Wednesday. We lost and didn't put in a good performance (at Arsenal) and I'm disappointed about this.

"But I shall think about the next game that we play - football is good for this.

"We can forget that game. We need to prepare for the next game and we need to win."