'Reds striker Alan Smith was sent off for a second bookable offence, leaving his side to try in vain to secure a much-needed win. Once again United failed to follow up a spectacular result in Europe by failing to get the Premiership points they so badly need to close the gap at the top.
United got off to a flying start and Mikael Silvestre denied a free header by what looked like a tug on his shirt and Paul Scholes then found Louis Saha with a pin-point cross but he was denied first by James and then by Stephen Jordan.
United then had another strong penalty appeal turned down when Antoine Sibierski blocked Saha, allowing Danny Mills to clear. City nearly caught United on the break but lone-striker Nicolas Anelka's finishing was not up its usual standard.
The traffic was nearly all one way with City rarely venturing out of their won half but a rare Blues raid saw Roy Keane yellow carded for a foul on Willo Flood and from the free-kick, Distin rose at the far post to plant a header at Roy Carroll.
James failed to hold Ronaldo's shot and was relieved no red shirt was on hand to cash in on the loose ball. James flapped unconvincingly at Saha's cross after the Frenchman skipped past Dunne at the start of the second-half but again escaped punishment.'