City title hopes, if any, suffered a decisive blow as they could not penetrate the defensive wall erected by Stoke. At the end it was a frustrating draw at the Etihad Stadium.
With 11 matches to the end of the season, Manchester City‘s hopes to cut Chelsea‘s lead at the top of the table failed miserably as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Stoke at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola‘s team rotation proved fatal for the Citizens as they looked too sluggish in the first half and were only dangerous in just one occasion when an Aleksandar Kolarov‘s free-kick was well saved by Stoke keeper Lee Grant.
With David Silva on the pitch for the second 45′, City improved but could not breach the wall erected by Mark Hughes and went close through the Spanish international low shot which missed the post by a fractions.
At the end it was a frustrating goalless draw for Guardiola‘s men who failed to grab those three points which would have moved them above Tottenham and diminish the gap at the top to 8 points with eleven matches to go.
For Stoke a well deserved point with Ryan Shawcross who mastered the Potters defence and with Bruno Martins Indi and Saido Berahino a constant treat to City when they left space at the back.
