City shirkers frustrate boss

Roberto Mancini accused his star–studded Manchester City attack of shirking their defensive duties as well as wastefulness in front of goal after watching them surrender their 100 per cent start to the Barclays Premier League season.

City looked set to open the campaign with five successive top–flight wins for only the second time in their history when they cruised to a 2–0 lead at Fulham yesterday.

They could easily have been further ahead, but relinquished their grip enough to allow the home side to come roaring back to salvage a 2–2 draw.

The result was the first blow to City's title hopes, allowing rivals Manchester United to open up a two–point lead at the top of the table.

It was also the third time in just over a week that they had not taken enough of their chances and manager Mancini said: "This could be a lesson for us. When you dominate a game like we did, and you score only two goals, it's a problem.

"A top team like us needs to have more control of the game."

Mancini's men did not need to get out of second gear in the first half, Sergio Aguero maintaining his fine start to life in England by putting them ahead.

Chances came and went before Aguero notched the eighth goal of his five–game Premier League career just 12 seconds into the second half.

But Fulham quickly pulled one back through Bobby Zamora before Danny Murphy equalised via a wicked deflection 20 minutes later.