Big-spending Manchester City ‘treated’ their fans to a second Eastlands stalemate in four days, a hugely disappointing outcome against a Birmingham side with a poor away record.

City dominated possession. But they were wasteful with their few clear-cut opportunities.

And they were jeered by their supporters, especially when captain Carlos Tevez, once again their main threat, was replaced by midfielder Gareth Barry late on as City were, supposedly, pressing for a winner.

Tevez was involved in the first half’s few bright moments. He fired the first chance of the match across the face of Birmingham keeper Ben Foster’s goal on 17 minutes.

He had the ball in the net five minutes before half-time but was penalised for offside and handball, and was booked for his trouble.

Adam Johnson fired wide from a fine Tevez pass a minute before half-time. And City came closest yet a minute after the restart when James Milner’s left-foot shot from 15 yards was cleared off the line by Birmingham right-back Stephen Carr.

Keith Fahey brought City keeper Joe Hart into action in a rare Birmingham sortie with a right-footed effort.

And late efforts by City’s Nigel de Jong and Barry were dealt with by Foster.