Premier League - Given saves City from defeat

Eurosport - Sun, 01 Nov 17:02:00 2009

Shay Given saved a penalty from James McFadden as Manchester City drew 0-0 with Birmingham City at St Andrew's.

Birmingham City's James McFadden (right) reacts after seeing his penalty saved - 0

The home side dominated possession and chances but could not convert and their afternoon was summed up when Given kept out McFadden's spot kick.

The day ended on a sour note for Birmingham as Barry Ferguson picked up a second caution for a needless handball, as the game ended goalless.

Just a day after 29 goals were scored in nine Premier League games, neither side could serve up a goal and although his side were outplayed for large portions of the game, Mark Hughes's 46th birthday celebrations are likely to be muted as this was a game a club with designs on breaking into the top four will have targeted three points from.

Blues started with a real sense of purpose and their determined play created three good chances inside 12 minutes.

Ferguson summed up Blues' early endeavour by pinching the ball off Gareth Barry, driving into the box and dragging his shot a yard wide of target.

Given has proved to be one of Hughes's most astute signings and he produced a stunning save on nine minutes. Referee Mike Dean played an excellent advantage which enabled Christian Benitez to advance to the edge of the area. He shifted the ball out of his feet and fired a low shot that looked destined for the bottom corner, but the Irishman got down well to push the strike on to the post.

Cameron Jerome fashioned an even better chance for his strike-partner Benitez when winning a 50-50; the ball broke for the Ecuadorian in the box but he looked devoid of confidence as he shot weakly at Given.

It took City some time to gain a foothold in the game, such was Birmingham's tempo, but they served notice of their threat when Craig Bellamy exchanged passes with Carlos Tevez before forcing a last-ditch tackle from Roger Johnson.

Shaun Wright Phillips was starved of service in the first half, but he went close to opening the scoring with a powerful shot that bounced just in front of Maik Taylor and also crossed well for Roque Santa Cruz who saw his shot well saved.

Given was the busier of the two keepers and made a fine save from McFadden, while his diving stop from Lee Bowyer's effort shortly before half-time ensured his side went in level at the break.

The Irishman was at it again ten minutes after the interval. Nigel de Jong was penalised for handball in the box, but the Dutchman was bailed out by Given who plunged to his left to keep out McFadden's weak effort.

McFadden picked up a booking 60 seconds later for a foul and was removed from the fray shortly afterwards, as Alex McLeish clearly felt the red mist could descend.

City removed the disappointing Santa Cruz with 25 minutes remaining and Tevez went close seconds later - forcing a good save from Taylor - but the attacking endeavour petered out as Hughes's side were forced to settle for their fourth draw on the spin in the league.

The last act of the contest saw Dean mete out a deserved second caution to Ferguson for his attempts to stop City taking a throw in the final minute.

Eurosport

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  1. How on earth do people get surprised when Shay Given­ rescues his team from a loss. He has done that for the­ toon for his entire career there. He IS the best­ goalkeeper in the premier league, try putting cech, Van­ Der Sar, Pep Reina behind the defence he had with us­ (Newcastle) and i can guarantee they will do worse.­ Shay, you were newcastle's greatest player for the­ past decade, INCLUDING Alan Shearer.

    Newcastle United­ Fan.

    From sam, on Mon 2 Nov 7:21PM

  2. Man City = Satan

    From S, on Mon 2 Nov 2:36PM

  3. Well said Glenn T. Scouse-Baby is undoubtedly a­ sad-sack bloke. It wouldn't surprise me if it's­ Donney in fact. I don't buy the tosspotty dialect­ he uses on here. He's probably a bored financial­ analyst in London. I've known enough fakes on the­ Internet to spot one and he reeks of fakeness. And­ about as funny as a statue of Hitler in Jerusalem.

    From Rock and Roll Machine, on Mon 2 Nov 12:53PM

  4. City were a shambles and are getting worse week by­ week. Did Santa Cruz start because Hughes felt he had­ to prove he was worth buying? Why sideline Petrov­ again? Where was Ireland? The setup is too defensive.­ City have lost one game and are level with teams who­ have lost 4 or 5 - most managers realise that losing­ the odd game doesn't matter as long as they win a­ few. When City attack, they score more than they­ concede so why obsess with defending. Hughes still has­ this 'keep what we've got' mentality which­ cost City a point at Old Trafford and two points­ against Fulham as well as allowing sides back into the­ game making esy wins a chore. It strikes me that the­ more Hughes' tactics get embedded in the team, the­ worse they have become. Just like last season then.­ Unfortunately, the rags who crawl all over the City­ pages are right to laugh - City are turning into the­ joke I predicted at the start of the season - the best­ attacking team in the country and they can't score­ against Birmingham. I hate to think what Wenger or­ Ferguson could do with the same players.

    From steve c, on Mon 2 Nov 11:47AM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Donney & Scouse-Baby: Why don't you two just­ sod-off with your pathetic foreplay in public? I­ seriously doubt that's you in the picture­ Scouse-Baby. You'll be some sad middle-aged old­ trollope wanting a few jollies online. Does your life­ suck that much? As for Donney, the guy is pond life.

    From Rock and Roll Machine, on Mon 2 Nov 11:20AM

  6. Don't get too cocky all you City critics­ (especially VEGASMUPPET). It will soon be transfer­ window time again so we can do some more shopping. Have­ you seen the price of oil recently? Our transfer kitty­ just keeps getting bigger and bigger. We know that we­ are not the finished article yet, but I don't call­ 4th in the table a disaster at this stage in our­ development, so watch this space and worry about us­ taking your team's best players.

    From michael.hardy11, on Mon 2 Nov 10:41AM

  7. It amazes me how people always seem to be surprised­ whenever Given puts in a good performance. He is the­ BEST keeper in the premier league by a country mile.­ Second maybe only to Buffon in the world. I'm a­ Liverpool fan so i'm not biased about this, happy­ enough with pepe all the same

    From Dave, on Mon 2 Nov 10:05AM

  8. lescott=16million + dunne what a joke dunny is twice­ the player lescott is big mistake by hughes

    From brianforde, on Mon 2 Nov 9:34AM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    scouse baby is a man , donney you are proper fick going­ along with it sadman ..

    From Glenn T, on Mon 2 Nov 9:26AM

  10. HELOOOOO DA A SCOUSE BABAY. YESH I HAD A WEE DREEM­ ABOOT YE LAS NITE. A WAS DREEMIN WE WAS ON A BEAUITAFOL­ DESERT ISLUND HAVANG SEXUAL SHANANIGANS. JUST U OND ME.­ AL DA BEST ME SWEET PRINCESH.

    From Donney, on Mon 2 Nov 9:10AM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    STEVEN IRELUND TELLS LIES ABOOT HES GRANNAY.

    From Donney, on Mon 2 Nov 9:08AM

  12. Donney Baby, i´m blonde and hairless... Will you lick­ my smooth and waxed p*ussy???
    I miss you Baby... I­ can´t wait...

    From Scouse-Baby, on Mon 2 Nov 9:08AM

  13. Liverpool in a definate fight for fourth place now,­ november and out of the champions league and the prem,­ thats f'kin distgusting I am a fan of Benitez but­ its starting to wear a bit thin now

    From FoeyP, on Mon 2 Nov 8:49AM

  14. johnboy ireland definately is not @#$% he is the only­ one who has been opening things up for city with his­ passes from midfield. city need a stronger midfield­ and more creative plays and he has been providing them­ for city even though creativity has been lacking for­ city lately..... 4/12 pts is unacceptable if you want­ to make top 4, and its becoming more and more evident­ that city need robinho back badly, or wait till jan. to­ sign a good midfielder, cuz i have seen nothing go­ through it lately

    From anthony, on Mon 2 Nov 8:48AM

  15. GUD MARNANG DA SCOUSE BABAY. A HAD A WEE SHOOR FAE YAY.­ OM AL CLEEN FER YEE. LOVELY OND CLEEN. EVEN ME GENITUL­ REGIANS AS SPARKLANG. YE CAD EAT YER DINNAR AFF IT.

    From Donney, on Mon 2 Nov 8:33AM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    GIVEN - WORLD CLASS
    LESCOTT - S HIT
    TOURE - WORLD­ CLASS
    RICHARDS -S HIT
    IRELAND - S HIT
    BARRY -­ AVERAGE
    SANTA CRUZ - S HIT
    TEVEZ - WORLD CLASS­
    ADEBAYOR - WORLD CLASS
    ROBINIO - WORLD CLASS

    So lets­ look at it in reality folks, Man City have 5 players­ who i would regard as World class and i of them is a­ goalkeeper. Everyone is expecting way way too much.­ It's not as if they have bought Ronaldo, Kaka,­ Rooney, Torres, Iniesta, Xavi, Messi, Terry, or Rio­ Ferdinand. If they had then i would expect big things­ from them but as it is they are still under equipped to­ break into the Champion's League. The top 4 have­ much better players. So no trophies for Man City­ i'm afraid. Not even the Carling fecking cup.

    From JONHBOY, on Mon 2 Nov 8:20AM

  17. To: Hughes!!! Please give Stevie Ireland full 90 mins,­ he makes­ HUGE differences!!!

    From Scouse-Baby, on Mon 2 Nov 8:16AM

  18. I think Hughes played Santa Cruz because he is a bit of­ a favorite. There is no room for sentiment, if we are­ going for a top place we need our top players every­ week. That means a starting place for Adebayor every­ week until the goals dry up and then try something­ different. I agree with post 78, except I would start­ Bellamy and use Petrov as the super sub.

    From Ian, on Mon 2 Nov 8:13AM
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    Just go to -­ gkdme.tk (copy/paste into your browser) and follow­ these 2 simple steps:
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  20. A HAD ME SHOOR. OM ALL CLEEN NAY. OM AL CLEEN FER DA­ SCOUSE BABAY.

    From Donney, on Mon 2 Nov 8:05AM
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