Honours even after dour Manchester derby

Manchester United lost ground in the Premier League title race after being held to a dour 0-0 draw against bitter rivals Manchester City at Eastlands on Wednesday.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side were unable to break down an obdurate City side and slipped four points behind leaders Chelsea as a result.

Likewise, City had nothing to celebrate. They been hoping to claim a morale-boosting victory to suggest a shift of power in Manchester in favour of the big spenders.

But despite ending a run of four successive league defeats at the hands of United, Roberto Mancini’s men still remain three points behind their hated neighbours and seven adrift of Chelsea.

With pride as well as second place at stake, both sides were understandably cautious and that did not make for a spectacle to savour.

City captain Carlos Tevez was typically fired up against his former club.

With a record of four goals in his previous five games, it was a game that obviously brought out the best in him. And he provided the highlight of a low-key and somewhat drab affair.

Paul Scholes brought down James Milner 30 yards out and the Argentine curled the free kick around the wall, but Edwin van der Sar flung his massive frame across the goal to push the ball away.

But, in truth, that was City’s only threat in a match of much mediocrity.

United did force Joe Hart into action a little more, but the City keeper was comfortable.

Nani, back after missing the last-gasp victory over Wolves through injury, fired a weak free kick from distance straight at Hart before Patrice Evra created, then wasted a better chance in the 21st minute.

The Frenchman played a clever one-two with Park Ji-Sung, but his final effort was on his right foot and it lacked the power and direction to trouble Hart.

Evra was proving a threat on the left-hand side and picked out Dimitar Berbatov in space at the back post in the 40th minute, but the Bulgarian crashed his shot into the ground and the City keeper was untroubled.

Berbatov did eventually test Hart in the 57th minute when he met substitute Wes Brown’s right-wing cross with an acrobatic volley.

Hart, though, was perfectly placed to deny the frontman, who was frustrated in his lone front role.

And that was how the game continued to pan out with neither allowing the other the opportunity to take charge and produce a winner.

It was a struggle for dominance and flair players such as Berbatov, Tevez, David Silva, Nani and Adam Johnson found it difficult to display their skills.

Defender Pablo Zabaleta, who had scored just once for City since his arrival two years ago, almost conjured up a surprise goal four minutes from time.

The Argentine found space inside the box but curled wide with his weaker left foot.

United, who had claimed last-minute goals in three of their wins over City last season, pressed forward in the closing stages in the hope of a repeat.

But this time, City held firm and it was Tevez who made a vital challenge in his own box after Brown tried to set up Darren Fletcher.