City held by basement boys

Manchester City came away from the West Midlands witha solitary point to show for their efforts following a goalless stalemate at Villa Park. City had the best chance of the game in the last minute but Fernando's headed effort crashed back off the crossbar.

In the home dugout, Rémi Garde was taking charge of Villa for the first time. Despite this point, the Villains remain bottom of the pile although they have arrested a dismal run of seven successive defeats.

Manuel Pellegrini looked to Jesús Navas when Wilfried Bony was forced to limp off with just 24 minutes on the clock, and with former Liverpool livewire Raheem Sterling on the other flank, City tried to open up the home defence with their pace. The two wingers were involved in City's first real chance of the match, which came in the 53rd minute, the Citizens having come out after the break all guns blazing and intent on cashing in on any slips in the home defence.

American international Brad Guzan made some fine saves in the Villa goal, while Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne, who have been so deadly during Sergio Agüero's absence through injury, had seemingly left their scoring boots at home. Any danger posed by Garde's men came from set-pieces but Villa never really troubled Joe Hart in the City goal.