Birmingham 0 – 0 Man City

This Football Scores Live Report Is Taken From Syndicated Services. Live Football Scores UK Reproduced Article

Manchester City had Shay Given to thank as his penalty save ensured they earned their fourth successive league draw against hard-working Birmingham.

Christian Benitez hit a post early on for the home side and Craig Bellamy saw a shot blocked for City.

Keeper Given came to the visitors’ rescue early in the second half, saving James McFadden’s penalty after Nigel de Jong had handled in the box.

Barry Ferguson’s second yellow saw Birmingham reduced to 10 men late on.

The Scottish midfielder’s dismissal was an unfortunate end to what was a committed display from the home side.
As the most recent Premier League beneficiaries of foreign investment, Birmingham have inevitably courted unfair comparison with Abu Dhabi-backed Manchester City.

New Blues owner Carson Yeung’s riches cannot match those available at Eastlands, but for much of this match his players were the equal of City’s expensively assembled charges.

The home side harried the visitors from the off and twice could have been ahead early on.

Referee Mike Dean allowed advantage to be played following a foul on Cameron Jerome, giving Benitez the chance to turn and shoot but his deflected 20-yard effort was tipped onto the post by Given.

A minute later, Jerome harried Vincent Kompany into relinquishing possession to Benitez, who ran through on goal but his shot was well saved by Given.

The home side were unable to keep up such a frantic pace and the visitors came into the game as the half wore on.

Bellamy had their first chance, latching on to a Carlos Tevez pass in the box and unleashing a shot but Birmingham defender Roger Johnson went to ground to block.

This Football Scores Live Report Is Taken From Syndicated Services. Live Football Scores UK Reproduced Article

Shaun Wright-Phillips almost embarrassed Maik Taylor in the Birmingham goal with a dipping effort from 25 yards, but a combination of Stephen Carr and Johnson were on hand to clear when the keeper spilled the shot.

The final clear-cut chance of the half fell to Birmingham as a combination of poor clearances from Joleon Lescott and then Gareth Barry gave Lee Bowyer a shooting chance inside the box but it was too close to Given, who was able to save.

With only eight goals scored so far, Birmingham are the joint lowest scorers in the Premier League this season and again their inability to convert chances cost them 10 minutes into the second half.
In an attempt to head clear in his own box under pressure from Sebastian Larsson, De Jong was adjudged to have handled by referee Dean.

McFadden took the spot kick but his effort was too close and at a good height for Given to dive to his left and palm away.

Further goalscoring opportunities were a rarity as both sides showed plenty of endeavour but little menace.

Jerome’s tame header from a Larsson cross was arguably Birmingham’s best effort, while an effort from Tevez, tipped over by Taylor, was as close as City came to a winner.

In injury time, Ferguson needlessly earned himself his second booking by handling the ball in an attempt to hold up a Manchester City attack.

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish:

“We came into the dressing room disappointed not to win and it was a very powerful performance.

“The only thing that let us down was the final touch but other than that how can I fault the performance of the players?

“Only a man-of-the-match performance from Shay Given stopped us from winning.”

This Football Scores Live Report Is Taken From Syndicated Services. Live Football Scores UK Reproduced Article

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes:

“We didn’t play as well as we are capable of.

“We needed to knuckle down today to get something from the game and that is what we did.

“People talk about the four draws but three of them have been away from home so we have still been picking up points.”

This Football Scores Live Report Is Taken From Syndicated Services. Live Football Scores UK Reproduced Article

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