Birmingham, UK: Manchester City's shortage of recognised strikers was glaringly exposed in a goalless draw away to bottom club Aston Villa on Sunday that saw them squander the chance to consolidate their position at the top of the Premier League.
Manuel Pellegrini lost the services of Wilfried Bony to a hamstring injury and then watched in frustration as City failed to make their second-half domination count in a match where Villa ended a dismal run of seven successive defeats.
City had to operate without a recognised frontman for more than an hour, although Raheem Sterling, Kevin de Bruyne and Fernando all wasted gilt-edged chances to wrap up all three points in the closing stages.
It meant that Frenchman Remi Garde claimed a valuable point in his first game as Villa manager to stop the rot which led to his appointment as the successor to Tim Sherwood, although a draw still left the Birmingham club at the foot of the table.
City were left ruing the missed chances, and the continued absence of Sergio Aguero, as they had to settle for a share of the spoils in a game they were expected to win comfortably.
The return of former City defender Micah Richards was one of six changes made by Garde to Villa's starting side from the team beaten at Tottenham Hotspur six days earlier.
As expected from a team under new management, Villa began the contest with great vigour and purpose, but the first real threat came when City's Aleksandar Kolarov was released by Sterling on the overlap and his cross flashed across the face of goal.
Nevertheless, there was encouragement for the home fans at Villa Park in the way their side started the game with Jordan Amavi getting forward at every opportunity, but Idrissa Gueye failed to trouble Joe Hart with a long-range shot after a burst from the centre of midfield.
AFP
