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Birmingham 0 Manchester City 0

Birmingham ground out a point with Manchester City but could have taken all three had James McFadden not scuffed a penalty in the second-half.

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Birmingham ground out a point with Manchester City but could have taken all three had James McFadden not scuffed a penalty in the second-half.
Birmingham ground out a point with Manchester City but could have taken all three had James McFadden not scuffed a penalty in the second-half.

Blues looked to have taken the turning point in a tepid affair at St Andrew's when City's Nigel De Jong was pressurised into handling the ball by Sebastian Larsson.

Referee Mike Dean pointed straight to the spot just 10 minutes into the second-half.

So up stepped James McFadden, only for goalkeeper Shay Given to palm away to his left and eventually to safety.

The home side had looked favourites to score after Christian Benitez had rattled the post in the first half, but City later went close Craig Bellamy and Carlos Tevez.

Blues then had midfielder Barry Ferguson sent off in stoppage time, a needless second yellow card for handling the ball from a throw in to hold up an attack.