Manchester United v Manchester City - Premier League Preview
City's dramatic decline since the turn of the year has prompted suggestions Manuel Pellegrini's squad needs a major summer overhaul.
But England goalkeeper Hart insists performances have not been as bad as results and called on City to show their old swagger in a stadium where they have won on their last three visits.
"There's not been many games where we've been battered or played really badly, but things haven't quite been going our way," he said.
"You can't say you don't deserve to lose games though, because Burnley beat us fair and square.
"Liverpool did and so did Crystal Palace, so we're certainly not feeling sorry for ourselves and we're ready to go again on Sunday.
"The derby is obviously important, but we need to win for our own sake. We have had a lot of success in this fixture and overall in the past few years and it goes without saying we want to keep that up.
"We need to get as many points as we can in the games that remain and finish where we want to finish in the Premier League.
"Because United are so high in the league at the moment, we know that if we finish above them it will obviously be better for us.
PA
Joe Hart is desperate to win the derby for Manchester City fans
"But we also owe our fans a victory in this game because they've been fantastic towards us.
"We have amazing support and I'd just ask them to do what they do when we play away from home.
"Whether we play in Moscow or a couple of miles across the city in Stretford, they are awesome wherever we play and they will be up for it on Sunday, so we will do our best to give them plenty to sing about."
We also owe our fans a victory in this game because they've been fantastic towards us
Joe Hart
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The momentum appears to be with United going into tomorrow's game and Hart has been impressed with two of their players in particular - skipper Wayne Rooney and his goalkeeping counterpart David De Gea.
Of Rooney, who is the record scorer in Manchester derbies with 11, Hart said: "He's in a good place and is playing really well at the moment.
"He's taken the responsibilities of being captain for his club and country really well – he's a player I rate really highly and he's a good guy, too and I'm looking forward to playing against him."
As for Spain No1 De Gea, he added: "He's been fantastic - he's made loads of saves, kept United in games and won them lot of points which is the most important thing and I'm sure if you asked him he'd say that's the thing that has pleased him the most this season."
