Richard Dunne's calamitous late own goal gifted 10-man West Brom a totally unexpected point at Eastlands as Manchester City's capacity for shooting themselves in the foot reached new levels.

The long-suffering West Brom fans had finally lost patience with manager Bryan Robson, chanting for his head after watching their team fail to create a single chance after having Thomas Gaardsoe sent off for a professional foul after 16 minutes.

But unbelievably, the visiting fans' jeers turned to cheers six minutes from time as, under virtually no pressure, Dunne allowed Paul Robinson's speculative long ball to bounce up and strike him on the shin.

The Irishman could only watch in stunned disbelief as the ball then rocketed low past stranded keeper David James, who had advanced to the edge of the area to deal with the non-existent danger, and roll into the net.

Not surprisingly, the goal silenced the moans of the irate Baggies fans and instead led to boos at the final whistle for City boss Kevin Keegan and his team, who looked certain to collect maximum points thanks to Nicolas Anelka's first half opener.

Anelka broke a two-month goal drought with his 32nd minute free-kick, but his contribution only emphasised the observation Keegan made in his programme notes that any decision to sell the French striker next month would be 'suicidal' for a side that for all its limitations, still harbours genuine top-eight ambitions.

Time and again over the last 18 months, City have found it impossible to break down opponents whose only ambition is to defend.

West Brom were doing that long before Gaardsoe's afternoon was brought to a severely premature end and the Dane's dismissal was hardly likely to alter that philosophy.

Yet despite almost total dominance of territory and possession, the Blues managed just a single worthwhile effort before Anelka scored, and it was the Frenchman who was also responsible for that, testing Russell Hoult's reflexes with a powerful low drive the Baggies keeper turned away for a corner.

Shaun Wright-Phillips tried to weave his magic on the right flank but his major contribution was robbing Neil Clement and then threading the ball through for Fowler, the move which ended with last man Gaardsoe pulling the former England man back to bring about an automatic red card.

Anelka's poor attempt to stroke home that free-kick at least warmed him up for the more successful chance which was to follow after Andy Johnson had handled on the edge of the area.

The stamp of class on his seventh goal of the campaign was in sharp contrast to anything else on offer during the opening period.

For all his industry, Joey Barton, returning to Keegan's starting line-up for the first time since the revelations about the players' Christmas party, is not a playmaker and most of the midfielder's attempts at the killer ball met with dismal failure.

Paul Bosvelt was even more conservative in his approach, which meant most of the time West Brom were able to prevent City's attackers from getting beyond their re-adjusted back four.

Keegan's team weren't helped by the loss of Stephen Jordan at half-time after the young full-back failed to recover from Johnson's crunching early tackle, potentially leaving City without a single left-footed player in their squad unless Ben Thatcher can be rushed back in time to face Southampton on New Year's Day.

That problem is nothing compared to those of the Baggies, who despite their point are looking increasingly like relegation certainties.

With a team seemingly bereft of even the most basic attributes required of a side capable of surviving in the top flight, how under-fire Robson must wish for the opportunity to call on a player of his own immense talent.

The only West Brom man to enhance his reputation on yet another dismal day for Albion was goalkeeper Russell Hoult.

Had it not been for Hoult's acrobatics, the Black Country outfit would have been on the end of a mauling similar to the five-goal effort inflicted on them by Liverpool on Boxing Day.

Three times he saved from Anelka, but his efforts to deny Wright-Phillips' angled drive and Fowler's brutal near post volley were even better.

At the time, City probably thought Hoult's heroics would not matter. How wrong they were.

Teams

Man City James, Mills, Distin, Dunne, Jordan (Onuoha 45), Shaun Wright-Phillips, Barton, Bosvelt, Sibierski, Fowler, Anelka.

Subs Not Used: Macken, Waterreus, Bradley Wright-Phillips, Flood.

Goals: Anelka 32.

West Brom Hoult, Scimeca (Albrechtsen 64), Gaardsoe, Purse, Robinson, Greening (Earnshaw 82), Johnson, Clement, Wallwork, Gera (Hulse 76), Horsfield.

Subs Not Used: Koumas, Kuszczak.

Sent Off: Gaardsoe (17).

Goals: Dunne 85 og.

Att: 47,177

Ref: A D'Urso (Essex).