Premiership: Manchester City 0 - 0 Sheffield United

This match will live long in the memory for Joe Hart, the 19-year-old Manchester City goalkeeper who made his full debut, although for anyone else forced to endure such poor fare it will be quickly forgotten and, hopefully, never relived. Until the closing stages there was little evidence of the passion and commitment associated with the two managers, whose cuddly toys and lucky mascots accompanying them on the touchline must have wished they could have been spared the punishment.

City did manage to protect their unbeaten home record and have still yet to concede here this season although such statistics bring small comfort when faced with a side expected to be fighting relegation.

The urgency that placed the United defence under pressure in the final 15 minutes arrived too late, allowing the visitors to depart with their first away point of the season and move out of the relegation zone. It might have been more, but Rob Hulse saw his overhead kick rattle the crossbar and Alan Quinn volleyed narrowly over.

City were not without their own chances, most of them falling to Georgios Samaras who endured another frustrating afternoon. His hapless strike partner Bernardo Corradi fared no better and, much to the relief of the home fans, was withdrawn. In his place arrived Paul Dickov, although it was a midfielder and a defender who came closest to stealing a winner for City. Ishmael Miller headed wide from inside the six-yard box and Micah Richards was equally wasteful from a similar position with two minutes remaining.

Stuart Pearce was frustrated. 'I expected us to be better than that,' he said. 'But if I'm being honest, I thought Sheffield United deserved a point.' The City manager bemoaned his side's lack of creativity although it is doubtful

anyone would have taken advantage had the service into the final third improved. There was a lack of energy about City that enabled United, encouraged by their victory over Middlesbrough two weeks ago, to control the early exchanges. Even so, it was not until two minutes before the interval that the visitors threatened.

Hulse created a yard of space where there appeared to be none, hooking acrobatically against the woodwork. It was the first time Hart had reason to be concerned as United, constrained by a five-man midfield that made it difficult to move forward with purpose, failed to turn possession into clear-cut chances.

Indeed, Hart's only save before half-time was a tame shot from Quinn that he could have caught with his eyes closed. More space appeared behind the City defence late on, but United's breakaways lacked a cutting edge. 'I'm disappointed we haven't managed to get the three points,' said Neil Warnock.

He could be thankful to Samaras and Corradi that they at least departed with one. Corradi headed wide from a Joey Barton free-kick when unmarked in the first half and Samaras had one of those days when shots tended to go everywhere apart from on target.

Michael Tonge might have pilfered a late goal for United, but Richards timed his challenge to perfection, before referee Mike Dean brought an end to the misery inflicted on everyone, including 'Scottie' the teddy bear and 'Beanie' the horse.