Man City's losing streak continues

Manchester City 0 Middlesbrough 1

Robbie Fowler’s Manchester City misery continued as the 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.