Manchester City fails to beat Portsmouth

Ben Thatcher left an ugly scar on Manchester City's Premiership goalless draw with Portsmouth at Eastlands as Pedro Mendes was carried off on a stretcher. The former Wales full-back had already made his mark on Kanu, Sean Davis and Benjamin Mwaruwari with what could kindly be termed as robust challenges when Mendes felt the full impact of the former Welsh international's forearm across his head five minutes into the second half.

TV replays showed not just how clumsy the challenge was, worthy of far more than the yellow card referee Dermot Gallagher dished out, but also Mendes apparently unconscious before he crashed into the advertising hoardings.

For all the wrong reasons, Thatcher's efforts provided by far the most noteworthy incident of an otherwise lacklustre game which City, in front of the lowest crowd for a Premiership game at their plush new home, dominated without ever really looking like making the decisive breakthrough.

After their impressive win over Blackburn at the weekend, a place at the Premiership summit had beckoned for Portsmouth, no mean feat, even at this early stage of the season for a club who seemed doomed to the Championship not that long ago.

Manager Harry Redknapp drafted in Saturday's two-goal hero Kanu in what appeared to be a move of attacking intent, yet the south coast outfit were dire in the opening half, creating just a single chance.

It fell to Gary O'Neil, who should really have done much better when Kanu muscled his way to the by-line and picked him out with a far post cross.

The England Under-21 international had time to line up his volley but the execution was miserable and the scuffed effort bobbled into the side-netting.

City did their best to take advantage of Portsmouth's struggles but, with first choice striker Bernardo Corradi missing, lacked a cutting edge.

Their main attacking thrust came through Joey Barton, back in favour again with the home fans after recently resolving his long-running contract dispute.

Twice Barton threatened the goal of ex-City star David James, returning to Eastlands on only his second senior start for Pompey.

On the first occasion, Barton's low curling shot flew past the side of James' right-hand post, on the second, the midfielder let fly with a low shot which his former team-mate got well behind.

Barton was also behind the series of dangerous set pieces which flew across the visitors' area, none of which City could get on the end of.

Deployed on the right side of a three-man attack, the Blues' #6million forward Georgios Samaras looked out of sorts, although he did manage to loop one header on to the roof of James' goal after Richard Dunne had found him with an angled ball.

City remained on top after the interval, although, unfortunately, it was not their play which provided the major talking point but Thatcher's challenge on Mendes.

Redknapp was clearly not amused and raced down the touchline to check on the stricken midfielder, who was eventually taken down the tunnel in obvious distress.

The visitors at least managed to keep their heads and in fact, became more of an attacking force after the incident.

And, after soaking up so much pressure, Portsmouth should have taken the lead midway through the second half when a flowing move, involving Svetoslav Todorov, Kanu and O'Neil ended with Matthew Taylor being presented with a clear sight of goal.

Thankfully for City, Nicky Weaver, back on the Premiership stage after almost four years on the sidelines with major knee problems, was equal to the task, beating away Taylor's effort.

Weaver came to the hosts rescue again in stoppage time when Glen Johnson weaved his way into the area only to find the imposing Blues keeper blocking his path to goal.