City lack guile to punish Paris

TAKE away Robinho and Shaun Wright-Phillips and Manchester City are devoid of a heartbeat.

That was evident in the absence of the pair last night as City laboured to a home goalless draw against Paris St Germain in the UEFA Cup.

With the Parisians also keeping close tabs on City dangerman Stephen Ireland, City lacked an attacking spark as they left the field to a chorus of boos.

But it was far from all gloom as City’s point clinched their passage into the knockout phase, though victory last night would have secured top spot.

It is still important for City, who head their group, to finish first as the group runners-up will each play opponents who are dropping out of the Champions League.

And it means City could possibly have to win in Spain against Racing Santander in their final group game in a fortnight’s time to guarantee top spot depending on how FC Twente fare in their final game.

City manager Mark Hughes admitted it was a frustrating night, adding his team’s performance could have been better, but also pointing out playing in Europe is another part of their learning curve.

He said: “Paris were prepared to concede ground and have two banks of four so there was not a lot of space in which to operate.

“That is why it is important for the development of the team to play in Europe and the more games we play the more adept we will become.”

City made four changes from Sunday’s derby, Micah Richards, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Robinho ruled out through injury and Dietmar Hamann for tactical reasons.

There were recalls for Tal Ben Haim in defence, Elano in midfield along with Jo and Daniel Sturridge who, along with Darius Vassell, formed a three-pronged attack.

When Paris keeper Mickael Landreau made a super double save to deny Sturridge and Elano in the same fourth-minute move, it looked as though it would be a lively night.

Apart from Landreau making another decent stop late in the half to turn Pablo Zabaleta’s drive round the post for a corner, that was about as good as it got in a dour opening period in which former Chelsea player Mateja Kezman lived dangerously after reckless challenges on captain Richard Dunne, keeper Joe Hart and Ben Haim when he was belatedly booked.

Sturridge twice and substitute Benjani, who had replaced the injured Elano early in the second half, went close for City before Paris staged a spirited cameo in the final half-hour in which they had five clear-cut chances to seal victory.

Hart made an important block with his left leg to keep out an effort from Peguy Luyindula who had two other glorious openings, as did Guillaume Hoarau and Zoumane Camara.

Paris, who are bottom of the group, needed a win to keep alive their hopes of progressing and manager Paul Le Guen was left disappointed as he justifiably claimed his team was the better side in the second period.