CITY spurned a host of chances against a spirited Sheffield United side and had to settle for a point at Eastlands.
The Blues at least remain unbeaten at home this term, and although the draw will be a welcome one for United boss Neil Warnock, his side have yet to score on their travels this term after six hours.
Certainly City enjoyed the better of a game that finished in free-flowing fashion following a sterile start.
Making his debut, goalkeeper Joe Hart could not have asked for a quieter opening 40 minutes as United huffed and puffed, but with no end product to show for their industry.
It was glaringly apparent why the Blades had failed to score at Tottenham, Fulham and Arsenal - a case of no capital gains for United.
Warnock was at least able to field an unchanged line-up, and that brought its own reward in that United appeared more settled, and with the players on show more in tune with another.
Yet City had three clear chances in the opening 45 minutes, and should have scored from at least one of those, only to let United off the hook.
Architect
Joey Barton, who was fined this week by the Football Association for baring his backside in the 1-1 draw at Everton a fortnight ago, was the architect of the initial two openings for Bernardo Corradi.
From an outswinging free-kick from the deadball line, after Claude Davis had been penalised for shoving Hatem Trabelsi to the ground as he attempted to shield the ball out of play, Corradi shinned an eight-yard shot over the bar in the 22nd minute.
Eight minutes later, Corradi shook his head at his own ineptitude again when he headed wide from an unmarked position after Barton had curled into the box another piercing free-kick.
Seemingly finding their rhythm, City spurned a third chance in the 37th minute, with Dietmar Hamann's dinked ball over United captain Phil Jagielka, finding Georgios Samaras.
The Greece international outpaced the centre-back and drove in an angled shot from 12 yards that goalkeeper Paddy Kenny spilled wide for a corner that came to nothing.
Hart, a é600,000 summer signing from Shrewsbury and in with Nicky Weaver and Andreas Isaksson both injured, was finally called into action in the 41st minute, albeit with Alan Quinn's curling 20- yarder straight at the 19-year-old.
But then 90 seconds from the interval City and the crossbar were rattled, with lone United striker Rob Hulse's overhead kick from 10 yards striking the woodwork after Davis' fine work at the near post in meeting a Keith Gillespie corner.
More of the same followed after the break, with further chances going begging, much to the frustration of City boss Stuart Pearce.
Sloppy
With United looking comfortable early on, sloppy midfield work allowed Trabelsi to set up a counter attack that should have resulted in the opener.
The Tunisia captain, on his home debut after recovering from a groin injury following his summer arrival from Ajax, delivered an inch-perfect right-wing cross that found the head of Corradi.
But from seven yards Kenny produced a flying point-blank block, and when Samaras curled the rebound wide of the left-hand post, Pearce aimed an angry kick at one of the drinks holders just outside his technical area, sending bottles flying.
Soon after Kenny dropped a high, hanging ball inside his six-yard box, allowing Republic of Ireland team-mate and City captain Richard Dunne to stab goalwards, only for Davis to clear off the line.
As the game opened up, Quinn shaved the bar from 15 yards, while Ishmael Miller - a half-time replacement for Stephen Ireland - did likewise with a bullet header from seven yards in latching onto another Barton free-kick.
With City often committed in attack, they left themselves open in defence, resulting in a number of United raids that broke down, much to Warnock's dismay.
In particular when a wide-open Michael Tonge was denied by a last-gasp challenge from Micah Richards, who late on headed inches wide of the left-hand post as United again found themselves unable to deal with a Barton cross.
In the end, United will look back as the more satisfied, with City wondering how they let this one get away.
What is your verdict on the game? Have your say.
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Jon, Newcastle (14/10/2006 at 17:31)
Njinsky Blue, Spain (14/10/2006 at 17:38)
paul, heywood (14/10/2006 at 17:38)
MIKE 83, MIDD (14/10/2006 at 17:42)
stalybridgeblue, stalybridge (14/10/2006 at 17:46)
malc, oldham (14/10/2006 at 17:55)
blue moon, at the computer (14/10/2006 at 17:56)
steve, plymouth (14/10/2006 at 18:09)
Blue John, London (14/10/2006 at 18:11)
Sorry, but we will finish in the bottom four this season, and
salvation may boil down to how fast we can develop genuine talents like Michael Johnson and Daniel Sturridge into first team material, cos too many of our current stars (Reyna, Dickov, Hamann, Sinclair & Samaras) are either past it, or don't have the stomach for a fight.
Njinsky Blue, Spain (14/10/2006 at 18:20)
Charlie, Macclesfield (14/10/2006 at 18:31)
Mr Ed, The Stables (14/10/2006 at 18:47)
Thats it, I can't be positive about anything apart from the fans who were superb. Once again the tactics from the bench were missing, as was any pace and creativity from the team. I don't want to sound so negetative but I was there and it was shite. Someone who wears blue tinted glasses please come on and cheer me up. I think we are doomed, as Private Fraser used to say.
Edski Vega, Notts (14/10/2006 at 18:53)
Edski Vega, Notts (14/10/2006 at 18:57)
East Stand, Manchester (14/10/2006 at 18:58)
No pace within the team, we cant string four passes together......unless of course you count the number of times we pass the ball sideways and back sideways and back never going anywhere!!
Couldnt single one player out who actually played well, too many players not fit or being lazy.
And NO movement off the ball either totally static which makes you SO easy to mark.
What do they do in training??? Apart from injuring themselves !!!!!
elliot, newcastle (14/10/2006 at 19:01)
have a bad feeling about how this season may turn out
Chris, Hyde (14/10/2006 at 19:16)
This game was exactly the reason why people are turning their back on the premiership, absolutely no entertainment value whatsoever.
City are passionless, clueless and poor in almost every department. How can SP justify his younger players strolling around showing no commitment with 5 minutes to go. Samaras!! 6M!! he is abject rubbish and the 2nd division dutch outfit must be laughing all the way to the bank.
SP sort this mess you have created out or get out. One guy behind me asked why Sky pay so much for this rubbish. My reply...why do we all pay so much for this rubbish.
Chris, Chester (14/10/2006 at 19:26)
Jon, Stockport (14/10/2006 at 19:26)
Edski Vega, Notts (14/10/2006 at 19:32)
Ready, Yorkshire (14/10/2006 at 19:41)
Corradi can't score, Sinclair , Hamann and Reyna ware class players three years ago. We are in a mess and I'm not sure Pearce is the man to sort it out. You never know, he may get the England job soon- he's got the track record for it!
Phil Andrews, Auckland (Ex Cornwall & Ardwick) (14/10/2006 at 19:44)
Alphonso, Izzet Under the Wold (14/10/2006 at 20:01)
Alphonso, Izzet Under the Wold (14/10/2006 at 20:02)
Gary, Dudley (14/10/2006 at 20:10)