Birmingham City 0 Manchester United 0

Last updated : 18 October 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Kenny Cunningham produced another outstanding performance to lead Birmingham City to an impressive goalless draw with Manchester United.

For the second successive Saturday Cunningham came face to face with one of the most dangerous strikers in the game but Ruud Van Nistelrooy could make no real impact against the Irishman.

Cunningham later admitted: "In view of our league position this was a vital point for Birmingham.

"We could not afford to lose and I was particularly pleased with the way we battled.

"Playing such a quality side as Manchester United is always a good experience and to keep a clean sheet and earn a point is no mean achievement.

"We have to build upon this performance but in saying that we have not been playing too badly of late as we proved in the previous home game against Newcastle." Birmingham's manager, Steve Bruce, was delighted to have taken his first Premiership point off his former club in five attempts.

Bruce said: "We battled hard and gave nothing away. I was very impressed with the way everyone played on the day.

"Manchester United are a quality side but we matched them on this occasion and I hope we can now take this form on to our next few games which are vital if we are to climb the table.

"We have been badly hit by injuries this season and I have yet to field my strongest side this season." Sir Alex Ferguson, United's manager, was not too disappointed. He said: "You have to give a lot of credit to Birmingham City.

"They kept coming forward all the time and competed for the entire game.

"We kept our composure and emerged with a point. We had our chances like the one from van Nistelrooy in the first half when their goalkeeper made a good reflex save." United, however, have only scored nine goals in nine Premiership games but Sir Alex feels that this not yet a problem. He said: "I have the strikers in the squad capable of scoring and I think it is only a matter of time before we start scoring the goals required." Man of the moment, Wayne Rooney, was given a rest following his midweek international duty but United were still able to parade three world class strikers in Saha, Alan Smith and Van Nistelrooy.

Interestingly, Birmingham recalled Julian Gray to operate in a stop-gap role against Cristiano Ronaldo. It was a testing occasion for the former Crystal Palace youngster but he more than coped in the early stages when Birmingham competed on an equal footing with their more illustrious opponents.

To his credit Gray produced such a good performance that Ronaldo was one of the United players substituted in the second half.

United, who visit Sparta Prague on Tuesday, may be several points adrift of their main rivals, Arsenal, but their star-studded team is at last beginning to bed down and should soon be hitting the high notes - once they start scoring! On this occasion they ran up a determined Birmingham side that was in no mood to concede an inch to their more illustrious rivals.

Birmingham, hit by a major injury crisis, were surprisingly competitive with David Dunn an inspiration with his direct thrusts into the heart of United's defence.

Dunn's determination certainly encouraged the likes of Emile Heskey who moved forward in a menacing fashion to unleash a powerful low shot which Ray Carroll could only parry away.

United struggled to get out of first gear as Birmingham were the more positive. The cool head of Roy Keane, however, did much to keep United together as a unit.

The Irishman mopped up a lot of loose balls and his distribution was of the highest quality to demonstrate that the Irishman is still the king-pin in the current rebuilding operation masterminded by the astute Ferguson.

Keane's only anxious moment occurred early in the second half when Robbie Savage crashed into the Irishman who took great exception to the challenge which left him limping and the Birmingham player collecting the first yellow card of the game.

But it was Maik Taylor who took the honours for Birmingham in a lively first half with a brilliant 36th minute reflex save to keep out a close-range effort from van Nistelrooy which the Dutchman usually puts away with calm assurance.

The Irishman had to act just as quickly a few minutes later to push out a blockbuster from Ronaldo when the Portuguese winger shot on the run.

Saha joined in the act with another ominous long-range effort which forced Taylor to scramble low down at his near post to keep out a shot from the former Fulham striker.

Bruce always relishes the opportunity to cross swords with his former manager and was delighted with the outcome of a hard fought game United, now unbeaten in their last eight games to St Andrew's, could have no complaints with the outcome either. Gallant Birmingham were more than worth their first point in five encounters against United.

With the industry of both Savage and Dunn they pounded United at every opportunity and only a smart save kept out a powerful effort from Heskey.

Sir Alex attempt to inject a fresh approach with the introduction of Rooney and Paul Scholes, but Birmingham tightened their grip once again to thwart United.

Birmingham had one late scare in the final minute when Alan Smith, still struggling to establish himself in a new role, fired a 20-yard shot just wide of the post.

But a late United win would have been a total injustice to a Birmingham side who produced a performance which was testimony to the competitive spirit in the Midlands side.

Man of the Match: Kenny Cunningham - The Birmingham captain never put a foot wrong in keeping out the Manchester United attack that is struggling to hit the goal standard. He held his defensive together under pressure to earn a morale-boosting point.