Robbie Fowler's Manchester City misery continued as the £6million former
England international bungled the Blues' last-gasp rescue attempt against
Middlesbrough.
Trailing to Sun Jihai's bizarre first-half own goal, manager Kevin Keegan
offered axed Fowler a chance of redemption when he threw him on as the chase for
an equaliser intensified.
His big chance came two minutes from time as the striker twisted on to Antoine
Sibierski's knock-down seven yards out.
The first-time volley was well struck but unfortunately for the home side
sailed agonisingly over the bar as City's goalscoring drought extended beyond
seven hours.
It confirmed City's third successive Premiership defeat and Boro's fifth
consecutive clean sheet, yet does not do justice to the home side's efforts on
the back of their dismal UEFA Cup exit in Poland.
The reverse also left Keegan without reward for his brave - but justified -
decision to leave out both Fowler and his former Anfield team-mate Steve
McManaman, neither of whom have matched their inflated reputations with decent
performances in recent times.
It was cruel luck therefore that against a side whose only shot came in the
final minute of stoppage time when Gaizka Medieta broke clean through and
somehow failed to score, that City should be responsible for their own demise.
There appeared little danger when Medieta delivered a 29th-minute cross from
the right but when Richard Dunne missed his clearance completely, a startled
Jihai was next in line and the Chinese international seemed unable to prevent
himself beating rookie keeper Kevin Stuhr-Ellegaard with a precise pass into the
corner of his own net.
Given only his second Premiership start after injury ruled out David Seaman,
Stuhr-Ellegaard could hardly believe his misfortune, yet it was nothing to
City's overall suffering.
Keegan must have be questioning the football gods as his side were so dominant
that opposite number Steve McClaren spent much of the afternoon on the edge of
his technical area, waving his arms in fury at Boro's inability to retain
possession for long enough stem the wave of opposition attacks.
Doriva could not be accused of not giving everything for the Teessiders' cause
until he was forced off with a nasty head wound after an innocuous clash with
Joey Barton.
Shaun Wright-Phillips was a particular threat and Paulo Wanchope's partnership
with Nicolas Anelka threatened to produce a goal at regular intervals without
actually managing to do so.
Mark Schwarzer denied Trevor Sinclair and Claudio Reyna with full length saves
at either end of the half and in between produced a fine reflex stop to deny
Wanchope after Anelka had nodded a Wright-Phillips cross into his path.
Wanchope was also at the centre of fierce penalty protests from the home camp
after he was impeded by Danny Mills as he tried to reach the loose ball which
Schwarzer had dropped in the heart of the box.
The decision seemed an obvious one but referee Mike Riley amazingly ruled
against the home side, only increasing Blues' frustrations.
Having resisted the urge to make changes at the interval, Keegan was no doubt
hoping for a change of fortune. Wright-Phillips though did not enjoy one as he
rasped a volley inches wide after taking Gareth Southgate's clearing header down
with one neat touch.
The England Under-21 winger appeared to be a man on a mission. Apart from his
mazy dribbling skills, which frequently twisted the Boro defence in knots, he
was also not afraid to shoot, unlike Wanchope who spurned too many opportunities
looking to set up better-placed team-mates.
Another Wright-Phillips effort was fumbled past the post by Schwarzer, who was
having a mixed afternoon, combining a series of smart saves with some woeful
handling.
Fowler arrived amid a succession of second-half substitutions and injuries,
yet there was no end to the former England man's torment in front of goal as he
screwed a shot horribly wide after Anelka had set him loose inside the box.
His best chance was still to come but yet again it was wasted, leaving City
anchored in mid-table and without too much prospect of immediate improvement.
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