Stubborn Stoke hold Manchester City to draw

Manchester City missed the chance to cut the gap on leaders Chelsea to eight points as they were held to a frustrating stalemate by a resolute Stoke City at Etihad Stadium.

The hosts were hoping to make it five league wins in a row but lacked the cutting edge that had seen them fire their way back into contention at the summit.

Stoke arrived with a game-plan and restricted Pep Guardiola's men to very few openings with substitute Kelechi Iheanacho wasting the Citizens' best chance deep into stoppage time.

The result means Chelsea stay 10 points clear at the top with just 11 matches to play. Tottenham are second with City still in third on goal difference.

The Sky Blues boss opted to rest Raheem Sterling and start David Silva on the bench with one eye on their respective matches in the FA Cup and Champions League over the course of the next week. It was a decision that backfired as a free-scoring City stalled against a stubborn away side determined to put their away-day hell at Tottenham behind them. Guardiola admitted City couldn't afford to drop any points in their pursuit of Chelsea and this will be another shot in the arm for Antonio Conte's men, who don't look likely to falter with such a vast advantage.

Ryan Shawcross (Stoke City). Was at the heart of an organised Stoke rearguard, snuffing out danger late on and keeping Aguero quiet throughout.

MAN CITY: Caballero 7, Sagna 6, Kolarov 6, Otamendi 6, Clichy 6, Fernandinho 6, Navas 6, De Bruyne 7, Yaya Touré 6, Sane 7, Aguero 6. Subs: Silva 7, Iheanacho 6.

STOKE CITY: Grant 7; Bardsley 6, Shawcross 8, M. Indi 8, Pieters 7; Diouf 7, Cameron 7, Allen 7, Ramadan 7; Berahino 6, Walters 6. Subs: Afellay 6, Whelan n/a Imbula n/a.

6' - STOKE CHANCE! The visitors almost take the lead. Clichy slips which allows Diouf to meet Erik Pieters' cross from the left with a tame effort that Caballero is able to push to safety. If he'd managed a better connection he would have scored.

51' - STOKE CHANCE! It's route one as Walters flicks on Grant's long click for Berahino. The striker races into the right of the area but sees his low drive brilliantly blocked by Otamendi.

60' - MAN CITY CHANCE! De Bruyne's low cross from the right finds its way to Sane who flashes a first time effort way over the top. It may have bobbled slightly but he still should have done better.

73' - MAN CITY CHANCE! Silva exchanges a one two with Fernandinho on the left of the box before drilling a low shot agonisingly wide.

90+2' - MAN CITY CHANCE! Iheanacho volleys wide from six yards after De Bruyne had put it on a plate with a wonderful ball in from the right.

Guardiola took charge of his 450th match of a top division club.

Stoke still have not beaten a side in the top half this season.