Mark Hughes issued a war cry in the wake of the weekend's results that was eagerly taken up by newspapers who would welcome a refreshing change from the usual soft parade of success in May.

Blues manager Hughes is not alone in scenting a power switch in the autumn air, with his own team among those ready to step up if Chelsea and Liverpool continue to repeat their lapses.

The Mirror's David McDonnell, always an astute observer, reports: "With Chelsea and Liverpool losing and Manchester United narrowly beating Bolton, Hughes said the top four are now there for the taking."

He quotes Sparky in the wake of the 1-1 draw at Wigan: "You just sense that the invincibility of the top four isn't there any more. Other teams think they can take points off them. I think this year it's got the potential to be as open as it's ever been.

"In March and April time, the big four usually come to the fore. But whether it happens to the same extent again this season, who knows?"

It was hard not to share his confidence at "threatening 'the feeling of invincibility'", added Oliver Kay in The Times, who also spotted the cheeky Four Seasons record "Let's Hang On" to kick off the half-time entertainment.    

Nor should City beat themselves up about dropping two points at Wigan, advises Neil Custis in The Sun.

Expanding on the theory that the "so-called smaller clubs" are no longer scared to compete, he writes: "So a point here, even for a team aspiring to be in the top fouror greater, is nothing to be ashamed of. Boy, did City have to work for it."