Saturday 12 March 2016 21:28, UK
Manchester City's Premier League title bid continued to stutter with a 0-0 draw against Norwich at Carrow Road on Saturday.
City have a ruthless record against teams in the bottom half this season but despite bossing possession they rarely troubled a dogged and determined Norwich, who hit the crossbar through Patrick Bamford in the first half.
The result leaves Manuel Pellegrini's side nine points behind league leaders Leicester City, who play Newcastle on Monday Night Football, while Norwich move level on points with Sunderland in 17th but remain in the relegation zone.
Norwich made four changes from the side that lost 1-0 at Swansea, while City made just one, with Fernando replacing the injured Yaya Toure.
The visitors dominated the opening stages, and had two chances to open the scoring through top scorer Sergio Aguero.
First, his 30-yard free-kick was tipped over the bar by John Ruddy, before the Norwich stopper was at his best to get down low to his right to tip wide the Argentine's fierce low effort.
But it was Norwich who had the best chance of the first half through Bamford, whose 30-yard half-volley bounced off the top of the crossbar having beaten Joe Hart.
City replaced the ineffectual Wilfried Bony with Raheem Sterling just after the break but struggled to really impose themselves on the game. Aguero won a free-kick on the edge of the box on 64 minutes, but David Silva's effort was blocked away the wall.
City started to pin Norwich back deep inside their own half and although they worked the ball into good areas down both flanks, Jesus Navas and Sterling failed to find the killer final ball.
The longer the game went on, the more comfortable the hosts became and they grew in confidence.
Substitute Dieumerci Mbokani sprinted clear down the left with six minutes remaining and squared the ball to Graham Dorrans, but he skewed a good chance wide from 18 yards.
Player Ratings
Manchester City: Hart (7), Sagna (6), Kompany (7), Otamendi (6), Clichy (6), Fernando (6), Fernandinho (6), Navas (5), Silva (6), Aguero (6), Bony (4)
Subs used: Sterling (4), Iheanacho (6)
Norwich: Ruddy (7), Martin (6), Bennett (7), Klose (7), Olsson (7); Howson (7), O'Neil (8); Redmond (6), Hoolahan (6), Jarvis (6); Bamford (6)
Subs used: Mbokani (7), Jerome (6), Dorrans (6)
Man of the match: Gary O'Neil
