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Chinese star Sun Jihai muffs golden chance
Chinese star Sun Jihai wasted a great chance to hand Manchester City all three points as Southampton escaped with a 0-0 draw at St Mary's here yesterday.
The Saints, too, fluffed three good chances to steal a victory in the final five minutes but failed to beat City keeper David James. The result increases the pressure on Saints coach Steve Wigley as his side had only taken two points from six English Premiership matches under his tenure since Paul Sturrock was sacked. Both teams defended poorly but the visitors dominated the first half with a succession of corners and close chances. Saints twice had David Prutton to thank when he made goal-line clearances as City went on the attack. England winger Sean Wright-Phillips crossed for Frenchman Nicolas Anelka who turned the ball towards the near post but Prutton, on the near post, deflected the ball over. City skipper Sylvain Distin then headed an Anelka corner goalwards but Prutton again cleared the danger. Jihai started the match due to injuries to Antoine Sibierski, Trevor Sinclair and Claudio Reyna but City manager Kevin Keegan must have wished one of those three was available after his glaring miss. He was played clean through on goal to the right of the penalty spot by Joey Barton, but with his weaker left foot, he fired his shot well wide of Antti Niemi's left post. Southampton had a good opportunity to score against the run of play five minutes later. After nine corners for City, Peter Crouch won Saints' first corner and although the defence cleared the initial cross, the ball fell to Fabrice Fernandes who played the ball back in for Kevin Phillips. The former England striker headed powerfully downwards, but it was straight to James. Wright-Phillips came close to breaking the stalemate three minutes after the interval but his shot sailed just across the face of goal. City were almost caught out five minutes from the end when they were caught defending far too high up the pitch by Phillips. The Saints striker charged at Richard Dunne, the only City defender who stayed back, but Phillips played his pass to Neil McCann a fraction too early and under pressure from Dunne, the Scotland forward shot wide. Crouch could also have won it for Saints a minute later but his header went straight at James. With almost the last kick of the game, Phillips attempted a chip over James
but his effort was weak and the City keeper made a comfortable save.
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