For those with a poor memory it is over three months since City last scored a goal in a Premiership home game! It was against Everton on New Years day that Samaras scored twice ( amazing!). Ah those were the days! I can even remember the days when we had proper wingers who could beat a defender and take the ball to the line and feed the centre forward (even before Goater!) Now it is rare in the Premiership to see a good game of football. Money and TV have ruined the game. Now referees have to wait for the Ok from TV staff to start the game. To be relegated from the Premiership is near financial disaster for a football club so when Charlton arrived in third from bottom place you could really know they were had planned to gain a point by defending in depth and hoping to nick a win from a set piece or breakaway. With City having 'almost' escaping danger by two good wins away at Borough and Newcastle we thought we were due a home win and some goals but it was not to be. Despite a better home performance the finishing touch is still eluding them at home and I know of several season ticket holders who have had enough of the poor home entertainment. There was a shortage of water in the gents loo's as well as goals!

Onuoha deputized for Richards and Johnson made his home debut in midfield. There was no sign of Ben Thatcher for the visitors.

With such great pressure by City it only looked a matter of time before the home side scored but Charlton held firm and all City's pressure came to naught.

After nine minutes Isaksson made a rare error fumbling a catch from a free kick and the ball was put in the City goal but fortunately the linesman had flagged for offside against Karkouri

Onuoha has a centre blocked

Ireland is off target with this chance

Johnson recovers after taking a knock from a close range clearance

Isaksson dives a cover a Dunne misheader which goes just wide.

A neat back heel by Johnson after 31 minutes gave Barton an opportunity to let fly but his shot was saved by Scott Carson

Marcus Bent and Isaksson tussle for the ball near the line. The ref gave a corner though it should have been a goal kick

Diawara blocks off Mpenza to cover Carson

Five minutes before half time Barton nearly scored following a good move involving Ireland and Mpenza but Carson dived to save near the post

The hardworking Mpenza was in action early in the second half

Stuart Pearce takes a step out of his area to make a point.

City defence clear a Charlton attack

Sinclair came on sub after 75 minutes for Vassell but he was slow off the mark on a couple of occasions.

After 73 minutes City had a lucky escape when the ball rebounded off Zheng Zhi and went just wide.

Scott Carson almost lost the ball at the edge of his area in this clash with Mpenza.

At the end of the game Charlton put some pressure on the City goal but they hardly had a shot all game so they managed to get the point they needed to get out of the bottom three for a few hours while City supporters once again had to go home without the pleasure of a goal to cheer.

Largest crowd of the season watched this soulless goalless draw at COMS. Yet another home game without a goal. With only ten home goals so far that's about £50 a goal for many supporters and it is likely to be the lowest home goals total for City since they joined the Premiership. Might even be a world record! On a hot spring day most players seemed to be thinking about their summer holidays and with City having reached the 40 points mark with an excellent away win at Fulham. Incidentally with Coleman losing his job at Fulham after the City defeat there have been several occasions when managers have been sacked following a loss against City. No doubt Wenger, Ferguson and O' Neill will be updating their CV's!

After his goal at Fulham Beasley kept his place, Ireland on was the bench with Mpenza the lone striker

Liverpool supporters in good voice as usual had this huge banner to remind us of the horrors of Hillsborough.

Beasley had an early run at goal down the left but his cross was blocked and the ensuing corner was cleared by the Liverpool defence

Pennant was proving a handful for Michael Ball and on the second attack he got the better of the City left back............

......... and Isaksson had to make a good save after 5 minutes to keep a clean sheet.

A few minutes later Distin made a great interception to prevent a cross from Riise reaching a waiting Kuyt

In the 10th minutes Vassell put in a great cross but Mpenza's header went just wide .

Riise well known for his shot was able to put in an effort ten minutes later but his effort went wide thank goodness

Eh Ref he's treading on my toe !

Mascherano brings down Barton

After 30 minutes Carragher hits the side netting following a corner which eluded the City defence

Half time came with no more chances at either end

Reina has to punch clear under pressure at a City corner

Beasley is brought down trying to break through

It's my ball and I'm keeping it!

City had a dubious shout for a penalty when Onuoha broke down the right..........

Liverpool manage to clear the City corner but the ball ran to Beasley........

........ who switched the ball from his left foot to his right fooling Alonso and his shot hit the Liverpool bar with Reina beaten.

Both City and Liverpool made changes and whilst it no surprise to see Crouch come on for Pennant many City supporters were amazed to see Corradi on.

As full time approached City had a good shout for a penalty when Carragher handled -above left - from a long Ball throw but City's appeals fell on deaf ears and the game once again ended goalless. Stuart Pearce apparently left before the post match interviews in order to catch a plane - to Barcelona perhaps to watch Sammy Eto against Mallorca ????

Ireland replaced the injured Johnson and Samaras came in for Beasley. Mpenza returned from injury

City had a spare referee ready for action with her assistant

There was a minutes applause immaculately observed for Alan Ball who had died from a heart attack earlier in the week

In hot sunshine City were first to attack.....

...... and Sorenson had to be smart to save from Barton after three minutes.

The two managers watch their under achieving sides

On 24 minutes Villa scored. A strong cross from Young found the head of Carew who flicked it past Isaksson with his head at speed.

Isaksson was becoming the busiest of the keepers and after 29 minutes he clashed with Agbonlahor......

...... and the Villa forward had to receive some treatment. Some of the City players used the time for a drink of water ( I hope) and a chat with the manager.

Ball and Gardner clash

Just before half time Barton shoots but ...........

.........the shot is saved by Sorenson for a corner. From the corner and ball runs loose ........

....Sorenson appears to foul Vassell and the referee Mr Halsey awards a penalty much to the Villa defenders surprise.

The Villa defenders protest and eventually Joey Barton runs up to take the penalty and is this going to give City their first home league goal since January ........

16 minutes into the second half Barton got Mpenza away on his own but Sorenson was quick to come out and block the shot from the City attacker . Another golden opportunity wasted.

City had the odd corner but could not break the Villa defence

... and there was even worse to come after 75 minutes . Substitute Maloney took a free kick well outside the area...

City had the odd half chance in the remaining minutes but to be honest their confidence had long gone as had most of the home supporters.
City are about to create some unwanted records with their lack of scoring in home games and it is no wonder that there are still some seats to be had for the game against United next week.
Yet another lethargic display that the manager seems unable to prevent.

There were times when Villa looked like the home side , dominating the mid field and the City goal had some narrow escapes

This shot from Agbonlahor was saved by Isaksson