adminLondon. — Bottom club Aston Villa held leaders Manchester City to a goalless draw in Remi Garde’s first game as manager.
Displaying a new-found defensive solidity, the hosts restricted City well although Raheem Sterling should have scored with a close-range header.
Fernando saw a late header hit the bar for the visitors, while substitute Fabian Delph’s low shot rolled just wide. Villa were less effective going forward and did not manage a shot on target.
However, they will welcome their first point since August against a free-scoring City side who were held to their second successive 0-0 draw away from home in the Premier League.
The result ends a disastrous run of seven straight league defeats for the Villans, while Manuel Pellegrini’s side stays on top of the league after Arsenal drew 1-1 with Tottenham yesterday .
Manchester City had 13 shots on goal in total – 10 of which came in the second half – but far too often they appeared to lack a figurehead up front.
Wilfried Bony was substituted with a hamstring injury after 25 minutes, but rather than send on a like-for-like striking replacement in Kelechi Iheanacho they pushed Sterling and Kevin de Bruyne further forward and put Bony’s replacement Jesus Navas out wide. They still created enough chances to win the game, but a combination of poor finishing, good goalkeeping and some new manager luck denied them.
Sterling will be disappointed not to score when clean through, but the England forward elected to cut inside on to his right foot and that allowed two defenders to get back and clear the danger. — BBC Sport.
Online Reporter