Bottom team Aston Villa hold Premier League leaders Manchester City to 0-0 draw
Remi Garde's first game in charge sees Birmingham side end seven-match losing streak
Aston Villa marked Remi Garde’s first game in charge by frustrating Manchester City 0-0 to end a seven-game losing streak in a meeting of the bottom and top teams in the English Premier League on Sunday.
Villa remain five points from safety but did at least stop their alarming slump after surviving a late scare when Fernando thumped the bar.
It was a massive, massive draw for us. We fought for each other and we played some good football as well
Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan’s reflex reaction stop denied Raheem Sterling, and Kevin De Bruyne missed a clear second-half chance as City failed to find a breakthrough.
“Of course we tried to score, but we couldn’t,” City manager Manuel Pellegrini said. “Villa didn’t shoot once to our goalkeeper but these things happen, we were unlucky with three or four opportunities.
“That happens in football, we didn’t score, but I was very happy with the way we played, especially in the second half.”
There was a renewed sense of confidence despite Villa’s run of losses, the first six of which led to Tim Sherwood’s firing.
“It was a massive, massive draw for us,” said Villa defender Micah Richards, who joined from City. “We fought for each other and we played some good football as well.”
