Stoke City continued their unbeaten run against Manchester City at the Britannia Stadium, in the Premier League, as new manager Manuel Pellegrini was denied a win before his birthday.
According to The Daily Star, the manager's winless run is five games now as Pellegrini's title challengers froze on a day when three points would have spiced up the Chilean's charge for the crown that City wore until neighbours United snatched it back.
Stoke gave them the fright of their lives as they threatened to finish worthy winners, with boss Mark Hughes entitled to a grin of satisfaction for running his former club so close, the report said.
Pellegrini said that he was not disappointed with the performance because it is better to not lose if you can't win the game.
Stoke weathered every storm and threatened plenty themselves as they tried to cash in on mistakes from a jittery defence missing mainstay Vincent Kompany, the report added.
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