Norwich City have boosted their survival hopes with a 0-0 draw against Manchester City in their Premier League fixture at Carrow Road.
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The opening 15 minutes were dominated by City, who were looking to replace Arsenal in third position in the standings, but the best they had to show for their efforts was a free kick from Sergio Aguero that was tipped over the crossbar by John Ruddy.
Aguero saw another attempt go well wide of the post, and just before the half-hour mark, he saw Ruddy stop a low strike across the goalkeeper from finding the bottom corner.
Norwich had barely offered anything in attack, but towards the end of the first half, they twice came close to opening the scoring through Patrick Bamford and Matt Jarvis.
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With six minutes until the break, the ball fell invitingly for Bamford around 25 yards out and he unleashed a half-volley that cannoned off the crossbar.
Jarvis's effort came with the last kick of the opening period, with the former West Ham United winger seeing his deflected shot from the edge of the area loop just wide of the far post.
The second half began with Nicolas Otamendi sending a header over the crossbar, but City failed to build on that and struggled for opportunities until the closing stages of the game.
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Norwich also found it difficult to create anything in the final third, even when Dieumerci Mbokani and Cameron Jerome were introduced for the final quarter of the contest.
With five minutes left, however, Norwich had their opening. Mbokani teed up Graham Dorrans on the edge of the box, but the Scot sliced his effort harmlessly wide of the post from 18 yards out.
Aguero had a late chance after driving towards the penalty area, but after that shot went high into the stands, Norwich comfortably held on to not only move level on points with Sunderland, but to leave City nine points adrift of league leaders Leicester City.
Darren Plant
