Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson refused to criticise his players after a frustrating 0-0 draw at home to Wigan on Saturday.City have yet to beat Latics in the Premier League and never looked like coming close to breaking that record with a performance lacking imagination and invention.

Their recent home form has been dreadful and they have now gone six league matches without victory at Eastlands.

But Eriksson tried to be positive about taking a point against Wigan.

"I can't go into the dressing room and tell the players they didn't try, they didn't work, the spirit was not good and things like that because I think it was, until the end of the match," said the Swede.

"You have to score a goal, then it would have been another type of football.

"I am disappointed with the result but as long as we fight and try I think as a manager you are okay and you shouldn't accuse the players of not trying."

Eriksson added: "Congratulations to Wigan. It is very difficult to break them down.

"You can understand from the first minute there will be a lot of occasions when we will not create if we do not score a goal.

"They are very good, physically strong team and as soon as they lose the ball they have eight or nine men behind the ball - which is very good for them."

In truth City created little in the way of clear-cut chances with transfer deadline day signing Benjani Mwaruwari wasting probably their two best opportunities.

In the first half a lack of control allowed goalkeeper Chris Kirkland to block the Nigerian's one-on-one and then after the break he fired Darius Vassell's left-wing cross wide from close range.

But the former Portsmouth striker fed on scraps for most of the evening as City struggled in the creativity department with even Brazilian Elano, before his 48th-minute departure to a knee injury, failing to have an effect.

Wigan, for their part, did not offer much more and appeared to be more than happy to settle for a draw.

However, Wilson Palacios could have snatched victory late on had goalkeeper Joe Hart not produced a smart save and the Honduran midfielder blazed the rebound over.

Manager Steve Bruce felt his side deserved to win the match.

"I thought the longer it went on there was only going to be one winner," he said.

"The unfortunate thing for us was we missed the chances when they came because I think overall we should have taken it.

"But it was not a classic. It is never easy [kicking off] at quarter past five.

"It was very difficult for us with the results (of their relegation rivals) going against us."

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