LEICESTER CITY 0, MANCHESTER CITY 0
Vincent Kompany out for a month with another calf injury
City record first clean sheet of the season without their captain
It was a second entertaining goalless draw for Manchester clubs in the space of two days as goalkeepers once again came to the fore with a string of saves which meant Manchester City moved back to third place while Leicester drew level on points with Arsenal at the top of the league.
Lethal strikers Jamie Vardy and Sergio Aguero may have been struggling with fatigue and form following injury respectively recently but their best efforts were off target as both clubs looked for a change in recent fortunes.
Aguero was City’s only change from last weekend’s thumping 4-1 win over Sunderland as he came in for Wilfried Bony.
After a first half in which Raheem Sterling tested former City ‘keeper Kasper Schmeichel three times, City’s chances faded in the second half although Aguero was particularly aggrieved at not earning a penalty just before he was withdrawn for Bony to boos from the travelling support after 65 minutes.
City boss Manuel Pellegrini once again pointed to his club’s dominance of possession and chances but was eventually satisfied with a clean sheet on the road – their first without captain Vincent Kompany in the side.
Pellegrini revealed that Kompany was expected to be out for three to four weeks with another calf injury, although in a different muscle, but was pleased with City’s resilient performance.
Although he was disappointed with the result, the Chilean said: “If you cannot win you must not lose.
“I am happy because we were a more solid and consistent team in defending.
“We improved and I am sure in the next game we will recover our normal performance.”
Pellegrini dismissed suggestions that City were underperforming away from home and pointed out that the Blues were still a factor in all competitions this season.
“I don’t divide the season so far in home and away games.
“We are three points behind the leaders who we must play at home in the second round of games.
“We continue in the FA Cup and Capital One Cup.
“We are the team that scored the most goals but have conceded 20 goals in the first round of games.
“We know that we must improve but it’s important to get the most number of points to regain the title.”
In any event, the Foxes were pleased to earn a point at home after only their second defeat of the season at Liverpool at the weekend showing that they were not going to give up their spot in the title scrap.
Manchester City’s poor away form in the league continued – their sixth game without a win on the road equalling a period in April 2011.
City remain winless on the road in the league since a 1-0 win at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace on September 12 and will travel to Watford in the league at the weekend.
The Watford trip will be followed by Cup games away at Everton in the Capital One Cup and Norwich City in the FA Cup presenting opportunities for City to improve their away-day fortunes.