It was a case of so near yet so far for Manchester City, summed up in the final seconds when Raheem Sterling appeared to be felled by John Stones inside the penalty area but Roger East, the referee, failed to point to the spot. This had Manuel Pellegrini’s men and their supporters in uproar but, while it appeared to be an injustice, given the chances previously spurned City should have already sealed victory.
At the close they had failed to score at home for the first time this season in any competition, their domination of Everton still ending in the dropping of what may prove two valuable points in this wide-open title race.
Pellegrini had felt unable to start David Silva, who was a substitute, so he asked Raheem Sterling to operate at No10. Jesús Navas took his usual berth on the right, with Kevin De Bruyne on the left.
The Sterling-De Bruyne axis was lively early on. The England man won the contest’s opening corner and this was taken by the Belgian, though it came to nothing. A few moments later the two players combined again as De Bruyne sprinted into space in the area from Sterling’s pass in what was a second warning to the visitors.
Between these moves the visitors had threatened from a Leighton Baines corner. His delivery, swung in from the right, was defended well by Yaya Touré with his head and, though the ball broke to Ross Barkley, Joe Hart collected easily after the Everton midfielder had taken aim at goal.
Pellegrini spoke beforehand about City’s record here, saying: “Home form will be very important if we are to take the title again after 2012 and 2014 and so far we have won more homes games than any other team in the Premier League. We now have tonight’s visit from Everton and Crystal Palace on Saturday to try and improve that record further.”
The count stood at eight victories, one more than Arsenal had, both having played 10 home games at kick-off. Pellegrini is especially conscious of needing to take full advantage when playing at the Etihad Stadium because City have managed only half as many wins on the road.
Roberto Martínez’s men arrived with three away victories but on the half-hour Leon Osman suggested they had no fear of performing in this stadium. Romelu Lukaku chipped over a precise ball from the right and Osman let fly a sweet left-foot volley that went across Hart and narrowly wide.
After creating this chance Lukaku showed why he is the competition’s joint top scorer, with 15 goals. John Stones sliced City’s defence open with a pass along the right and the centre-forward sprinted away and into the area but as he shot Nicolás Otamendi did enough to put the Belgian off.
The attendance was affected by traffic problems – two coaches of Everton fans were forced to turn back – and a car on the tramline from central Manchester, meaning the Etihad had a patchy look. This was a shame because though still goalless at the break those who failed to make it were missing a nicely poised contest.
City were the brighter, Sergio Agüero continuing to approach prime sharpness after a heel injury. Since returning the Argentinian had scored twice in five outings and Everton had problems each time he took the ball near Tim Howard’s goal.
This meeting was the second of three between the clubs this month. The first edition was Everton’s hard-fought 2-1 win in last week’s first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final at Goodison Park. Lukaku’s 78th-minute strike gives his side the advantage in the tie before the return on the 27th of this month and it was the Belgian who threatened first when the second half began. Lukaku may be disappointed he could not open the scoring from a clever through ball by the previously muted Barkley.
Although neither manager made a substitution at the interval Pellegrini tinkered with his personnel, swapping the positions of De Bruyne and Sterling. If the manager hoped for a dividend from the latter’s pace down the left he came close to near-instant success.
Taking the ball along this corridor, Sterling’s speed allowed him to tear towards Howard but the attempt was a disappointment, so off target that it came closer to being a throw-in than to giving City the lead.
Touré’s form has recently enjoyed an upturn and a buccaneering run and shot that forced a corner again showed the factor he can be for the Sky Blues. De Bruyne had previously scuffed a delivery from the right quadrant but this time his aim was better as it came at Agüero at speed and the No10’s header needed Howard to be sharp to repel it.
This was now City’s best passage of play. Sterling again might have taken himself into double figures in all competitions this season when moving towards goal on the right but he could not convert. Next up De Bruyne had a cross-cum-shot that likewise came to nothing.
After Martínez brought on Steven Pienaar and Arouna Koné for Osman and Gerard Deulofeu, Pellegrini made his own move. De Bruyne was replaced by Silva, the manager looking for the player he views as City’s X-factor to fashion a third league victories in four outings. But the man nicknamed Merlin could not affect the outcome. City probed but could not find the ruthless edge required. They will hope not to look back with regret at this come the end of the season.