IF Dr Thaksin Shinawatra needed a visual reminder of why Sven-Goran Eriksson is permanently in his ear telling him he needs money for attacking blood, then this was it.

Having fallen a goal behind after half an hour, City dominated but just couldn't find the firepower to drag themselves back to level terms.

They used four different players on the right flank but it wasn't until the arrival of Stephen Ireland in the 68th minute that the visitors looked balanced and like snatching a deserved point.

It wasn't a pretty match and one at which that the highly technical Champions League sides in Italy and Spain would thumb their noses, but there was a high enough level of intensity to make it compulsive viewing.

The Toffees are the last side in the Premier League faced by City this season and there is no doubt that Richard Dunne is correct in his assessment that there are not five better teams than his in the top flight, but to prove that, they are going to need more goals and to stick to their stylish brand of football.

Unfortunately, fewer than 24 hours after Liverpool's trumpeted elevation to European Capital of Culture, there was little in the way of the finer arts on display at Goodison Park.

It is hard to see where this old ground, ragged around the edges but still much loved by its patrons, fits into the 12-month celebration of all that is enlightening, enriching and civilizing about Merseyside.

Goodison is something of a working museum these days cramped and squashed in the same way Maine Road used to be.

It is hardly surprising that the Everton hierarchy are keen to move to a state of the art stadium and those who oppose the switch - and there are traditionalists clinging to the memories forged in the Gwladys Street end - should look at the rise and rise of City in terms of income, crowds and now success on the pitch since they left their former home to realise moving is a catalyst for invigoration.

Ambition

Not that Everton, like City, have been making a bad job of emerging from their neighbours' shadow. That these two teams should, after 22 games, still be eyeing Champions League qualification, is testament to their ambition and the skills of their managers.

This was the first time David Moyes and Sven-Goran Eriksson had sat opposite one another in the dug-outs and they made a wonderful contrasting study.

City's ice-cool Swede sits seemingly impassive unperturbed by the ebb and flow while Moyes, the practical but inwardly fiery Scot, seems to kick every ball. Tactically though they are both masters of their trade and perhaps that is why for long periods this game saw two sets of players operating to instructions that cancelled one another out.

Eriksson again made minimal changes though he did bring back virus free playmaker Elano in place of Ireland. The Brazil ace was despatched to the right flank with Castillo the supplementary striker.

It was a switch that wasn't in the slightest bit successful with Elano's influence severely diluted and the Mexican's contribution non-existent.

Moyes' and Eriksson's formations almost mirrored one another with the emphasis on containment and counter- attacking.

The opening quarter of the game reflected that with neither goalkeeper unduly worried until the 24th minute when Joe Hart plunged low to his left to deny Tim Cahill and then smiled gratefully as the busy Aussie lofted a second chance over the bar.

Shielded

Until then it had been turgid stuff with both defences well shielded and well on top.

City, as an attacking force were almost non-existent with little space to work in, though they were aggrieved not to be awarded a penalty when Darius Vassell's flick seemed to hit Nuno Valente's arm.

Everton finally earned some tangible reward for their slightly more positive approach and City's lack of urgency in the 31st minute when the visitors failed to clear a right flank corner.

After a clever pass back to the flank from the influential Phil Neville, the ball came back in from Mikel Arteta for Joleon Lescott to flick past Hart.

Thereafter, an equaliser seldom looked on the cards for Manchester. There was a fleeting opportunity from a Petrov corner but Nedum Onuoha failed to make contact.

With Elano restored to his favoured position, City began the second half in fine fashion dominating the play without troubling Tim Howard.

Even so Eriksson had seen enough and there was a double substitution after 55minutes with Hamann and Castillo replaced by Gelson Fernandes and Rolando Bianchi, leaving Darius Vassell to be the Blues third right winger 13 minutes later Ireland replaced him to become number four!

Still City looked the more likely to score but a lot of huff and puff was not enough to force Howard into anything spectacular.

It wasn't until deep into injury time that he had a shot on goal to deal with and he safely pouched Petrov's well-hit near post drive and then caught a Bianchi header.

The inescapable conclusion was that a top six finishing slot will be much easier to secure if City can find a bustling, physical striker - and just 17 days to make it happen.

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