Man City 0 - 0 Charlton
Charlton climbed out of the Premiership relegation zone for the
first time since September after picking up a battling point
against Manchester City. Emile Mpenza saw his header cleared off
the line in a whirlwind City start.
Scott Carson also denied Joey Barton twice before half-time but the
home side ran out of ideas after the break. Charlton did not force
City keeper Andreas Isaksson into a save but the draw was still
enough for them to move above Sheffield United into 17th
place.
The Addicks are now unbeaten in their last five games and have not
conceded in their last three matches. Alan Pardew's side have still
only won once on the road all season but the importance of climbing
out of the drop zone was clear by their reaction at the final
whistle.
It was a vital game for City too - they had lost their previous
four games at Eastlands but knew a win would virtually assure them
of safety. And despite their woeful recent home record City made an
impressive start with the only thing missing being an all-important
goal.
Stuart Pearce's side forced 10 corners in the first half - with
five coming in the first three minutes - as they attacked at every
opportunity. Predictably, Belgian striker Mpenza was in the thick
of the action for City, and he and Barton had City's best early
chances. Mpenza, who had scored City's winners in their last two
matches, forced a close-range save from Carson before Faye cleared
his header off the line.
A battling run from Michael Johnson ended with a powerful shot by
Barton that was well saved by Carson and the keeper repeated the
trick when Stephen Ireland teed up Barton soon after. Charlton had
offered little in response, with their best effort coming when City
defender Richard Dunne almost headed a Jerome Thomas cross into his
own net. But they at least managed to take the sting out of City's
attack in the second half.
Carson went from being the busiest man on the pitch to being a
virtual spectator as City continued to show why they have failed to
score in 15 of their previous 30 league games this season.
The home side did threaten when Nedum Onuoha headed over when
well-placed but that was as good as it got for Pearce's men. And
Charlton could even have snatched an unlikely win when Darren Bent
found Zheng Zhi free on the edge of the box but the China
international's poor first touch allowed Onuoha time to get in a
challenge.
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Man City: Isaksson, Onuoha, Dunne, Distin, Ball, Johnson, Barton,
Jihai, Ireland (Sinclair 74), Vassell (Samaras 74), Mpenza.
Subs Not Used: Weaver, Dabo, Beasley.
Charlton: Carson, Young, El Karkouri, Diawara, Hreidarsson, Zheng,
Song Billong, Faye, Thomas (Rommedahl 90), Marcus Bent, Darren
Bent.
Subs Not Used: Randolph, Ambrose, Lisbie, Bougherra.
Att: 41,424
Ref: A Wiley (Staffordshire).
