Manuel Pellegrini's charges have given the teams above them the chance to pull away further in the title race, while the Canaries stopped the rot with a hard-earned point

Manchester City's Premier League title ambitions were dealt a potentially fatal blow as they were held to a 0-0 draw with relegation-threatened Norwich at Carrow Road.

Manuel Pellegrini stated in the build up that the Citizens needed to win nine of their remaining 10 games in order to have a shot at winning the league, but they left themselves with no margin for error from here on in after failing to find a way past home goalkeeper John Ruddy.

The goalless stalemate has left fourth-placed City nine points behind leaders Leicester City, who take on Newcastle on Monday night.

Credit should be given to Norwich, who put in a battling performance that could have even resulted in a much-needed victory had Patrick Bamford's first-half effort not struck the bar.

Sergio Aguero, who had scored five goals in five Premier League appearances against Norwich ahead of this weekend's encounter, had the best of City's chances but found Ruddy in determined mood.

Sloppy defending from Russell Martin early on allowed Aguero to try his luck from a narrow angle, but the Norwich defender made amends for his poor headed clearance with a good block.

Aguero continued to be City’s main attacking threat in the first half, firing a free-kick from 20 yards out straight at Ruddy after 15 minutes, before shooting just wide shortly after.

Ruddy then showed his class on the half-hour mark when Aguero unleashed a low shot from just inside the box, making a sublime one-handed save to deny the former Atletico Madrid man.

Norwich gradually grew into the game and Bamford nearly gave the home fans reason to celebrate shortly before the interval with a fantastic long-range strike that struck the woodwork with Joe Hart beaten.

The visitors pushed for the opener after the break and Nicolas Otamendi headed just over from a dangerous position after beating his marker to Jesus Navas' corner from the right.

David Silva wasted a golden opportunity to open the scoring after 64 minutes when he failed to get a free-kick from the edge of the box on target.

Pellegrini introduced Raheem Sterling and Kelechi Iheanacho in a bid to find a late winner but, despite long spells of pressure, it was Norwich who had the best chance of the closing stages when Graham Dorrans fired wide when unmarked from the edge of the area.

The draw was not enough to move Norwich out of the relegation zone but they are now level on points with 17th-placed Sunderland.

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  Well, that’s all for today from Carrow Road, folks! It has been a pleasure to bring you all the action from East Anglia, where it has finished Norwich City 0-0 Manchester City. Until next time, thank you and goodbye!
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  The result sees City remain in fourth place, nine points behind first placed Leicester, who would increase that gap to 12 should they defeat Newcastle United at the King Power Stadium on Monday evening in what is Rafael Benitez’s first game in charge of the Magpies. The visitors only ever really tested John Ruddy on one occasion this afternoon, when the former Everton shot-stopper got down well to prevent Sergio Aguero netting for the fourth-straright time against Norwich, who were desperately unlucky not to take the lead themselves when Patrick Bamford’s effort struck the crossbar.
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  The draw does see Norwich remain in the bottom three on goal difference, but it is a vital, moral-boosting point for Alex Neil’s side, who were more than worthy of their clean sheet. City dominated possession, but in all truth they did not muster enough to warrant the victory.
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  FULL-TIME! City get it forward, but not before Jon Moss sounds the final whistle! What a point that is for Norwich, who have put in a superb defensive display this afternoon to move onto level points with Sunderland and, in the process, prevent the visitors from edging any closer to mounting a late tilt on the title.
• 90'+3'

   

  We’re well into the final minute of the allocated amount of stoppage time at Carrow Road. Can either side manage to muster one final opportunity?
• 90'+2'

   

  The delivery is again a poor one, and City can again forge a counter-atatck, with Fernandinho and Zabaleta combining down the right wing to win a corner. Silva delivers a cross to the near post, but again Klose gets to it ahead of Aguero and Norwich hook it away before Sterling releases the pressure with a reckless and needless foul on O'Neil.
• 90'

   

  A major opportunity for Norwich now as we move into three minutes of added time, as Mbokani wins a free-kick - on the right this time - that O’Neil stands over… 
• 87'

   

  TOP DEFENDING! A free-kick now for City that Silva drifts in to Iheanacho, whose flicked-header is cleared by Mbokani but only as far as Zabaleta, who drinks a cross back in. It eventually falls back to Iheanacho, but he cannot get a clean strike on goal and it rebounds out to Sterling. The winger looks set to pull the trigger, but Klose again gets across on the cover to make an excellent challenge. 
• 85'

   

  SubstitutionBacary Sagna Pablo Javier Zabaleta Girod
  A final change now then for City, as Bacary Sagna is replaced by the more attack-minded Pablo Zabaleta for the remaining five minutes plus stoppage time.
• 84'

   

  CHANCE! What a moment that could have been for Norwich! Kompany and Sagna make a mess of a clearance and the ball bounces back into the path of Mbokani. who drives into the box before selflessly teeing up Dorrans on the edge of the area. The former West Brom man tries his luck with a first-time effort, but he can only skew his chance wide of the mark!
• 82'

   

  Sloppy from Sterling, as he - for a reason known only to himself - stalls his run after Iheanacho had played a neat ball into his path. The England winger looked sharp when he first came on, but his effect has diminished as the half has wore on...
• 79'

   

  Good work from Mbokani, as he shows his experience by winning a free-kick off Kompany down on the left flank. Olsson lofts in the cross towards the area, where Norwich’c centre backs have moved up to, but the delivery is a tame one and City counter through Aguero. He looks to slide a throughball into the path of Iheanacho, wh had checked his run to stay onside, but O’Neil is well-positioned to cut it out.
• 77'

   

  SubstitutionJesús Navas González Kelechi Promise Iheanacho
  A second change now for City, as Kelechi Iheanacho - who made his first start in the reverse fixture - replaces Jesus Navas. The Nigerian youngster has an impressive nine goals to his name in all competitions this term.
• 76'

   

  CLOSE! More good defending from Norwich, as Klose gets across to prevent Aguero latching onto a cross at the near post. You do feel that the visitors are just starting to find more gaps now, having been in the hosts’ half for much of the second period.
• 74'

   

  Yellow Card Jonathan Howson
  Another booking now for Norwich, as Jonny Howson picks up a yellow card for a cyncial foul on Fernandinho, who had got the better of the former Leeds midfielder with a neat bit of footwork.
• 73'

   

  One thing that the change does allow Norwich to do is to be a bit more direct with their counter-attacks, as they now have two big targets to hit upfield rather than the more slender figure of Bamford. City are still dominating possession, but despite their poor defensive record, the hosts are remaining steadfast in their efforts to keep the visitors at bay.
• 70'

   

  It will be interesting to see how Norwich set up now following those changes. Both Jerome and Mbokani are natural front-men, though since the introduction of Sterling, Neil’s side have found themselves been pushed back deeper and deeper. It appears that the hosts will retain their 4-4-1-1 shape for the time-being, with Mbokani sitting in the position behind the main striker that Hoolahan was previously occupying.
• 68'

   

  SubstitutionPatrick Bamford Cameron Jerome
  And that change is actually a double one, as Norwich’s third and final substitution sees Patrick Bamford make way for Cameron Jerome. It has been an impressive full debut for the youngster, who was unfortunate not to give the hosts a lead with a truly superb strike in the first half.
• 67'

   

  SubstitutionWes Hoolahan Dieumerci Mbokani Bezua
  A second game of the change now for the hosts, and it is certainly an attacking one from Neil, as he replaces Wes Hoolahan with Dieumerci Mbokani.
• 65'

   

  Almost! Silva drives a low effort on target from the resulting set-piece, which clatters off the wall and pin-balls around in the Norwich area, before Dorrans reacts to hook it clear deep into City’s territory. The hosts really are sitting deeper and deeper now!
• 64'

   

  Superb from Aguero! The diminutive striker does brilliantly to get the better of Klose and draw a foul right on the cusp of the area. The referee could have bene forgiven had he pointed to the spot, but he instead awards the free-kick, and rightly so...
• 62'

   

  CHANCE! Sterling’s first involvement in the game is to drive past O’Neil down the left and win a free-kick after being brought down by the former Middlesbrough and Portsmouth midfielder. Silva lofts in the cross, and although it is cleared at first City work the move back into the area with Fernandinho bursting into the area and teeing up Aguero, who attempts to get the better of Klose but is just unable to get his shot away.
• 60'

   

  Poor from Navas as he twice fails to get a decent cross into the area from a corner down on the right. Norwich counter swiftly, with Bamford managing to get the better of Kompany on this occasion, but he is soon sandwiched off of the ball by Fernando and Fernandinho, who had covered the gap vacated by their captain.
• 59'

   

  SubstitutionWilfried Guemiand Bony Raheem Shaquille Sterling
  A change now for City, as their second-highest scorer Raheem Sterling enters the fray to add some more width and pace to the visitor’s so-far lacklustre attack. The former Liverpool winger replaces the rather ineffective Wilfried Bony.
• 58'

   

  Solid defending again from Klose, as the former Wolfsburg defender powers out to prevent Bony getting on the end of Fernandinho’s cross.
• 56'

   

  It’s certainly an open and flowing game at Carrow Road, though Jon Moss does have a decision to make after Otamendi - already on a booking - clatters clumsily into Dorrans. The Argentina defender escapes with just a word of caution, though you do feel had he not already been booked that the foul would have warranted a yellow card.
• 54'

   

  More pressure from City, but again they are unable to carve out any space in between Norwich’s stubborn defence and the home side are able to counter through Hoolahan. The Republic of Ireland international drives forward before laying it off to Bamford, but the Chelsea-loanee is quickly smothered by the excellent Kompany.
• 51'

   

  Wasteful! Navas dinks in the free-kick, but in all truth it was a poor one and Norwich clear it - though only as far as Aguero. He attempts to twist around his marker and jink into the penalty area, but he is well-marshalled by Dorrans and the hosts manage to stem the chance.
• 50'

   

  Yellow Card Gary O'Neil
  A corner now at the other end after Hoolahan’s cross is deflected wide. However, the hosts camped make anything of it and City counter through Aguero, who makes a length-of-the-field run before being dragged down on the cusp of the Norwich area by O’Neil, who picks up a booking.
• 48'

   

  City have started the second half in a similar fashion to how they began the first - well in control with Silva dictating the tempo of their attacks. Navas does well to win a corner down the right which he then whips in to a dangerous area. Otamendi - whose only goal for City so far came in the win over Norwich at the Etihad - meets it on the run, but his header lands on the roof of the net.
• 46'

   

  Under way! We are back up and running at Carrow Road, with Manchester City who have won just two of their last 10 matches on the road - getting the second half started.
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  Despite City controlling over 70% of possession in the early stages, they could not muster a clear chance until just prior to the half-hour mark, when Aguero raced clear of Olsson and powered a low strike at goal that Ruddy reacted instinctively to parry wide. Norwich hauled themselves back into proceedings from then-on-in, however, and were almost rewarded for their efforts when Bamford’s stunning 30-yard strike rattled the crossbar. The hosts have been dealt a blow, though, with their top-scorer and star player Redmond having to be taken off due to an ankle injury.
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  HALF-TIME! That’s it for the opening 45 minutes at Carrow Road, where the score is still level at 0-0 between Norwich and Manchester City. The visitors dominated proceedings in the opening half-an-hour, but since then the hosts have had the better of the game, with Bamford going agonisingly close to giving them the lead with what would arguably have been a goal of the season contender on his first Premier League start...
• 45'+2'

   

  CLOSE! Great play again from the hosts as Dorrans drives in from the right wing and attempts to curl an effort into the top-left corner, but it takes a slight deflection and sails out for a corner...
• 45'

   

  SubstitutionNathan Redmond Graham Dorrans
  And that injury duly results in a substitution for the hosts, as Graham Dorrans, who himself has been out with an injury lately, comes on to replace his stricken teammate. There will be two additional minutes of stoppage time at the end of this half...
• 44'

   

  A real dilemma for Norwich now, as Redmond again goes down onto the turf with what looks to be a re-occurance of that ankle injury he picked up earlier. He will not be able to continue, which is a real blow for the hosts.
• 42'

   

  A brief rest-bite now for City, as Silva, Clichy and Fernandinho make some headway down the left wing and retain possession down by the corner flag. Silva eventually attempts to weave his way into the area, but can only concede a foul after O’Neil had managed to position himself between the Spaniard and the ball.
• 40'

   

  CROSSBAR!!! WHAT AN EFFORT FROM BAMFORD!! That is so unlucky for the Chelsea-loanee, who takes a lofted ball from deep under control before, with no other alternative, hammering a half-volleyed effort at goal from over 30 yards out. The strike dips and swerves and evades Hart, but rather than nestling into the back of the net, clatters off the woodwork. What a way to open up his Norwich - and Premier League - goalscoring account that would have been!
• 38'

   

  Again, City have Kompany to thank as their skipper twice makes superb blocks to prevent Redmond and then Jarvis getting their crosses into the box. Norwich have really upped their game in the last 10 minutes and the visitors have been unable to really get out of their own half. Can the hosts take advantage and get the goal their manager and supporters so desperately crave...
• 36'

   

  More patient play from the hosts, as they again look to make headway down the left flank through Olsson, who drives in an inviting low cross, but once more City’s captain Kompany reads the situation perfectly and gets across to make the block. Norwich are certainly well in this game now, though!
• 33'

   

  Redmond has made his way back into the fray now, and looks to be moving relatively freely as Norwich forge another well-worked move into City’s final third, but Bamford is just unable to latch onto O’Neil’s cross.
• 31'

   

  A pause in play now, as Redmond receives treatment for an apparent knock to his ankle. Neil looks concerned on the touchline, and rightly so, given the importance of the winger to his team. The hosts will be desperate for him to be fit to carry on.
• 29'

   

  GREAT SAVE! That’s a super stop from Ruddy, who gets down low to his right to get a big, strong hand to Aguero’s driven effort that was destined for the bottom-left corner of Norwich’s net. The Argentine has looked sharp in the early stages, but that was his first real sighter at goal.
• 28'

   

  Redmond drives in the free-kick to a dangerous area, but Hart comes out to command his area and gather it in before getting City’s counter-attack kick-started at pace. Aguero controls it excellently, but he is well-marshalled by the retreating O’Neil.
• 26'

   

  Yellow Card Nicolás Hernán Otamendi
  Norwich have settled somewhat in recent minutes, and that has really lifted the crowd. Bamford drops deep into midfield and sets Martin off with a superb first-time pass. The hosts’ captain - making a club-record 120th Premier League appearance this afternoon - drives down the flank before combining with Redmond and being brought down by Otamendi, who duly goes into the book for his troubles.
• 23'

   

  Better from Norwich now, as they finally manage to sustain a brief period of play in City’s half. Howson and Hoolahan combine to set up Olsson for the cross down the left, and the former Blackburn Rovers full-back duly delivers a flat ball in, but Kompany is well-placed to cut out the danger ahead of Bamford, who was lingering on the shoulder of the Belgian.
• 21'

   

  ALMOST! Great play by City, who are starting to pick out the gaps in Norwich’s defence with ease. Fernandinho is the architect in this instance as he drifts a precise 40-yards pass to Clichy, who despite finding himself free in acres of space in the hosts’ penalty area, can only fire a tame cross into the side-netting.
• 19'

   

  It’s patient and precise play from the visitors at the moment, as they continue to dominate proceedings with over 70% of possession.  Navas and Silva link up down the right before the latter tees up Aguero, who twists and turns towards goal before drilling a low effort in from the edge of the area, but it trickles harmlessly wide of the upright.
• 17'

   

  STAT FLASH - There have been 40 goals scored in the last eight Premier League meetings between the two sides, and only Tottenham have prevented Norwich from scoring at Carrow Road this campaign.
• 15'

   

  CLOSE! Aguero tries his luck from the free-kick with a dipping strike that gets up and over the wall, but Ruddy is equal to it to prevent the effort nestling in the top-right corner.
• 14'

   

  Silva really is running the show at the minute for City, as he drops deep to pick up possession and spread a lofted throughball towards Aguero. Bennett gets there first, with the loose ball falling to O’Neil, who can only foul Fernandinho and give the visitors a free-kick 30 yards from goal...
• 12'

   

  Yellow Card Ryan Bennett
  A retrospective yellow card then for Ryan Bennett, who really did dive in late on Silva in the build-up to that chance and can have no complaints. Fortunately for the visitors, the Spaniard is okay to continue.
• 11'

   

  Great defending! Bennet dives in heavily on Silva, who stays down injured after managing to prod the ball onto Bony. Referee Jon Moss waves play-on, with Bony driving an effort towards the target from range, but Klose gets across to make a timely interception and clear the danger.
• 10'

   

  Unlucky! Silva picks out the run of Aguero with a sublime pass but the Argentine - who has scored 10 goals in his last 10 appearances - had made his move just too early and is correctly flagged for offside.
• 9'

   

  Good play from Norwich at the other end, now, as Redmond picks up a pocket of space in the inside-right channel and slots a meat pass though to Martin, whose attempted cross is deflected wide for a corner. The aforementioned former Birmingham City winger powers in a flat delivery, which falls out to Olsson on the edge of the area, but he blazes his strike well over the crossbar.
• 7'

   

  CHANCE! City are starting to get on the ball now, with Silva naturally dictating the tempo from that advanced central midfield position. The former Valencia playmaker slides a throughball into the path of Navas, who drives to the byline before lofting a cross towards the back post which Martin can only help on to Aguero. The striker sets himself up before drilling an effort goalwards, but the Norwich skipper atones for his error with a decent block.
• 5'

   

  An interesting tactical change for City, as it appears that Aguero is taking up a berth slightly out to the left at the moment, with Silva slotting in behind Bony. The Argentine wins a free-kick off Martin, which is floated in to the centre of the area. Ruddy charges out to collect it, only to spill the ball under pressure from Kompany, but the hosts manage to claw it clear.
• 3'

   

  A rather scrappy opening two minutes then at Carrow Road, with Norwich attempting to move the ball quickly and directly from back-to-front. The last time these sides met - in the FA Cup third round in January - City won 3-0, while the reverse fixture at the Etihad finished 2-1 to the League Cup winners.
• 1'

   

  KICK-OFF! We are under way at Carrow Road, with the hosts, attacking from left to right in the first half, getting proceedings up and running.
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  Kick off is just moments away now, and the teams are out onto the pitch at Carrow Road - which is packed to capacity for this game, which really is a huge moment in the respective campaigns of both these sides!
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  Norwich have conceded 12 goals in their last four games at Carrow Road, and you feel that their defence will have their work cut out for them today against the in-form Sergio Aguero - who took his tally for the season to 16 league goals with the double against Villa last time out. However, City have struggled for goals on the road so far this campaign, having netted just 13 times in total away from the Etihad.
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  Norwich’s issues have stemmed from their inability to hold onto leads. Their have been prime examples in recent weeks - against Liverpool and West Ham respectively - where Neil’s side have taken two-goal advantages but failed to go on and claim the three points. As for City, their problems can be traced back to their quite dreadful record against teams in the top eight of Premier League this season. They have won none of their 11 fixtures against the sides around them, and it is only their form from their 17 fixtures against the bottom 12 of the league (W15, D2, L0), that is keeping them within range of a real tilt on the title in the last 10 games of the season.
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  TEAM NEWS - Manchester City substitutes: Zabaleta, Sterling, Kolarov, Caballero, Demichelis, Iheanacho, Garcia.
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  TEAM NEWS - Manchester City (4-4-2): Hart; Sagna, Kompany, Otamendi, Clichy; Navas, Fernando, Fernandinho, Silva; Bony, Aguero.
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  TEAM NEWS - Norwich substitutes: Bassong, Mbokani, Jerome, Rudd, Dorrans, Mulumbu, Pinto.
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  TEAM NEWS - Norwich (4-4-1-1): Ruddy; Martin, Bennett, Klose, Olsson; Redmond, O’Neil, Howson, Jarvis; Hoolahan; Bamford.
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  The teams are in now from East Anglia. There is one change for the visitors, as Manuel Pellegrini drafts in Fernando for Yaya Toure, who is absent through injury. As for Norwich, who would escape the drop zone with a victory today, they make four changes in total to the line up that started in the defeat to Swansea City. Two of those are enforced, with Robbie Brady and Steven Naismith both injured, while Cameron Jerome and Ivo Pinto drop to the bench. Martin Olsson, Ryan Bennett, Matt Jarvis and Patrick Bamford making his first Premier League start for the club - coming into the side. Lets check on the full starting XIs.
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  On the other hand, Manuel Pellegrini's side - 10 points behind league-leaders Leicester City heading into this round of fixtures - bounced back from their lacklustre performance in the 3-0 defeat to Liverpool with a comprehensive 4-0 thumping of lowly Aston Villa last time out. Top-scorer Sergio Aguero netted a double in that rout at the Etihad, and the former Atletico Madrid forward will fancy his chances of getting on the score sheet once again today - given his excellent record of six goals in six games against Norwich.
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  The Canaries have been in terrible form as of late, with a run of eight defeats from their last nine league fixtures leaving them in 18th place. Alex Neill, however, has called for the Norwich faithful to stick firmly behind their struggling side - who have taken just one point from their last four games - as they look for what would be just their second victory over City in 14 attempts in the Premier League.
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  Hello and welcome, folks, to this LIVE coverage of what promises to be another enthralling Premier League encounter, as relegation-battling Norwich City take on fourth-placed Manchester City, who have not won back to back games in the top-flight since October last year. Stick right here to get all the action as it happens from Carrow Road.