Given the hero as Man City deny Birmingham

AFP - 1 November 2009 19:35

Birmingham City´s Lee Bowyer (L) runs with the ball pursued by Manchester City´s Nigel De Jong (R) during the Premiership match at St. Andrews in Birmingham. The match ended in a 0-0 draw.

BIRMINGHAM (AFP) - Shay Given was Manchester City's hero as the goalkeeper produced several fine saves to earn Mark Hughes's men a point in their goalless Premier League draw away to Birmingham City.

Sunday's stalemate here at St Andrews was enlivened by an impressive display from Republic of Ireland international Given, including a penalty save from Scotland's James McFadden.

Manchester City's fourth straight draw was good enough to take the visitors into fourth place in the table.

Birmingham's disappointment at seeing McFadden miss was made worse when Blues midfielder Barry Ferguson was sent off in injury-time for his second bookable offence after trying to stop Manchester City taking a quick throw.

Christian Benitez hit a post early on for Birmingham before Manchester City and Wales striker Craig Bellamy had a shot blocked.

The home side had a gilt-edged opportunity to take the lead in the 55th minute after Nigel de Jong handled in the box.

But the resulting penalty saw McFadden strike a weak shot which wasn't far enough away from Given and the goalkeeper, diving to his left, made a two-handed save.