Joleon Lescott believes City’s winning mindset could prove the defining factor as the race for silverware enters its final and defining last six weeks.

Sunday’s hard-fought 2-1 win away at Fulham was enough to pilot Pep Guardiola’s side back to the top of the Premier League table for the first time in 10 weeks.

City are now preparing for a hectic May schedule that will see us play eight games including a huge Champions League semi-final double header against Real Madrid.

With June’s historic all-Manchester FA Cup final against United also looming large on the horizon, it promises to be a thrilling end to the season as City fight for success on three fronts.

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And for Lescott – one of the special guests on Sunday’s latest Matchday Live show – the way City dug deep to claim victory at Craven Cottage through Erling Haaland’s early penalty and Julian Alvarez’s spectacular strike spoke volumes as to the mentality of Pep Guardiola’s squad.

“It was vitally important on Sunday to win and that’s all that matters now – getting the win,” the former City and England central defender pointed out.

“It was a similar situation going into the Nottingham Forest game a couple of months ago where if we had won then we would have gone top, but it didn’t happen that day.

“Performances are irrelevant in many ways at this stage.

“If City win every game and play like that, they can win the treble.

“At this stage of the season, yes you want to play well, and you want to perform.

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“But it’s not the be all and end all that they have to blitz every team for 90 minutes every week.

“It’s also about showing this (determined) side of the game as there will be periods, maybe against Real Madrid, where you will be out of position and uncomfortable.”

For his part, Nedum Onuoha, a fellow special guest on Sunday’s show, also pointed to the reassuring presence of City’s defensive quartet as a key component in our latest win.

Kyle Walker, John Stones, Ruben Dias and Manuel Akanji all stood cool and composed against Marco Silva’s talented side.

And former City central defender Onuoha was full of admiration for their latest collective contributions.

“Yes, it obviously helps to have Erling Haaland but what’s also key for City at the moment is having John Stones, Kyle Walker, Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias for these tricky, dogged away games as they fought their way through the second half,” Onuoha added.

“And it’s one of the reasons why City are such a tough team to beat.

“An away game is always going to be tough for a spell but City limited Fulham to two shots.

“Even on a day like Sunday where they were not at their supreme best the opposition still can’t find a way past way them.”