Bore draw softens City title hopes
Sixty-eight goals in 25 league games; the Premier League's highest achieving goalscoring graduates - and still we can't score against Norwich. Yes, the blues composed yet another tuneless performance on Saturday as Chris Hughton's Canaries pecked the goals out of Manchester City and recorded a potentially crucial 0-0 draw.
Slumps stain the best of teams, but the timing of Manchester City's latest dip in form has been less than impeccable. With enormous ties with Chelsea and Barcelona unsettlingly approaching, February is no time for a dip in confidence, but injuries to both Sergio Agüero and Fernandinho seem to sapped the swagger from City's play.
(Ace absentees: The blues have endured a distressing dip in form without Agüero and Fernandinho in their ranks)
Aching from a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea on Monday night, the blues allowed their hosts to enjoy the majority of the early play. A skewed effort from Nathan Redmond was shortly followed by a tap in from Gary Hooper, but the striker was deemed offside by the linesman. The Canaries were spreading their wings and desperate to migrate away from the bitterness of the relegation zone, they began to fluster a Manchester City side deprived of morale.
Stevan Jovetić's impressive cameo against José Mourinho's side earlier in the week earned the Montenegrin a starting place alongside Álvaro Negredo, but the couplet lacked any sort of spark. City's best chance of the afternoon fell to the Spaniard who headed against John Ruddy's crossbar, whilst Jovetić's volleyed effort received a warm welcome from the gloves of the English keeper. A recent shoulder injury seems to have knocked the 'Beast', and he has indubitably sacrificed some of his 'scare' in recent weeks.
(Out of sorts: The 'Beast' has been wasteful in recent weeks)
Joe Hart 6 - One save from Bassong kept City in the game, but in truth, the England stopper had very little to do.
Pablo Zabaleta 6 - As was typical of the rest of the team, the Argentine's delivery was off. Other than that, an effortful and solid performance.
Vincent Kompany 7 - Simply faultless and had more defending to do than he would have previously expected.
Martin Demichelis 5 - A move from midfield to defence should have seen the veteran return to home comforts, but he was shaky and slow.
Gaël Clichy 6 - Struggled with the pace of Nathan Redmond and was unable to get down the flanks as Norwich pressed.
David Silva 6 - Did his best to create openings but the movement of his forwards restricted Merlin's creativity. Finishing was poor - again.
James Milner 7 - A much better option than Demichelis in midfield and justified his place with creativity and solidity.
Yaya Touré 6 - Loves the big games, and steps off the pedal for the 'smaller' ones. Languid and lethargic throughout in a game City needed the Ivorian to step up in.
Jesús Navas 6 - Delivery was unusually poor and better crossing could have seen City out of sight.
Stevan Jovetić 7 - City's brightest spark in the first half and his goal was incorrectly ruled offside. Wrongly substituted early on.
Álvaro Negredo 6 - Another off performance from the Spaniard and he looks like he needs Agüero back.
Blocked shots: Norwich City 1 - 4 Manchester City
Corners: Norwich City 4 - 14 Manchester City
Fouls: Norwich City 7 - 6 Manchester City
Pass Completion: Norwich City 75% - 87% Manchester City
Tackle Success: Norwich City 35% - 52% Manchester City
Possession: Norwich City 39% - 61% Manchester City
The bright yellow bus continued to act as a barrier against City's relentless pursuit of a goal, and the dismal delivery of Jesús Navas never threatened to penetrate a solid Norwich defence. Yaya Touré failed to assert any of his usual power on proceedings, and strolled up and down the field with the purpose of Manchester United's title charge. Things just weren't going well.
The game maintained its monotony throughout, but last gasp efforts from the home side could have handed the hosts a precious victory. Fortunately for us blues, they didn't, and a Capital One Cup final dress-rehearsal against Gus Poyet's Sunderland awaits.
Time to buck up.
Player Ratings
Joe Hart 6 - One save from Bassong kept City in the game, but in truth, the England stopper had very little to do.Pablo Zabaleta 6 - As was typical of the rest of the team, the Argentine's delivery was off. Other than that, an effortful and solid performance.Vincent Kompany 7 - Simply faultless and had more defending to do than he would have previously expected. Martin Demichelis 5 - A move from midfield to defence should have seen the veteran return to home comforts, but he was shaky and slow. Gaël Clichy 6 - Struggled with the pace of Nathan Redmond and was unable to get down the flanks as Norwich pressed.David Silva 6 - Did his best to create openings but the movement of his forwards restricted Merlin's creativity. Finishing was poor - again. James Milner 7 - A much better option than Demichelis in midfield and justified his place with creativity and solidity.Yaya Touré 6 - Loves the big games, and steps off the pedal for the 'smaller' ones. Languid and lethargic throughout in a game City needed the Ivorian to step up in. Jesús Navas 6 - Delivery was unusually poor and better crossing could have seen City out of sight. Stevan Jovetić 7 - City's brightest spark in the first half and his goal was incorrectly ruled offside. Wrongly substituted early on. Álvaro Negredo 6 - Another off performance from the Spaniard and he looks like he needs Agüero back.
Substitutes
Edin Džeko 6 - Never troubles Norwich's back line.
Aleksandar Kolarov 6 - Couldn't impact proceedings.
Match Stats
Shots on target: Norwich City 2 - 2 Manchester City
Shots off target: Norwich City 4 - 9 Manchester City
