McFadden’s 55th minute spot kick was saved by Shay Given, as Birmingham were forced to settle for a point despite having the better of the game against their more illustrious opponents.
Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish replaced the ineligible Joe Hart with Maik Taylor. Emmanuel Adebayor was again missing for Manchester City with a back spasm, meaning Roque Santa Cruz kept his place after his goal in the League Cup in midweek.
The opening chance of game fell to the home side after six minutes. Barry Ferguson dispossessed Gareth Barry, but after breaking into the box, he could only pull his left foot shot wide.
They came agonisingly close two minutes later when Christian Benitez ran at the City defence, and his shot from 20 yards deflected off a defender and was expertly turned onto the post by Given.
Benitez was in the action soon after, but once he was clean through on goal, his shot lacked conviction and was kept out by Given.
The visitors began to come back into the game approaching the quarter hour mark, and only the leg of Roger Johnson kept the sides level after Craig Bellamy’s shot looked to have beaten Taylor.
Shaun Wright-Phillips tried his luck from the edge of the box with a dipping shot, but Taylor did well to keep the ball out.
The home side’s high octane start had dipped, but McFadden tried to inject new impetus into his side’s play with a long range shot that forced Given into a fingertip save.
Good pressure from Sebastien Larsson and Cameron Jerome led to Lee Bowyer firing a shot from the edge of the box that was smothered by Given, who did well to reclaim the ball at the second attempt under pressure from Ferguson.
City began the second half better than the first, and created the first opportunity through Carlos Tevez, but his 30 yard shot went harmlessly over.
Birmingham were awarded a penalty after 55 minutes, after Nigel De Jong was adjudged to have handled the ball when jumping for a high ball with Larsson.
However, McFadden’s penalty was too close to Given and the Irish ‘keeper punched the ball away.
Joleon Lescott should have done better from a corner on the hour mark, but his shot from six yards lacked power and was straight at Taylor.
Birmingham went straight up the other end, and Jerome’s headed just over at the back post after being found by Larsson’s cross.
After a flurry of substitutions, the visitors were back on the front foot and Tevez tested Taylor with a driven shot from 20 yards.
A lengthy delay due to an injury picked up by Johnson altered the flow of play, an dboth sides struggled to get any real attempts on goal.
Tevez tried one last shot in vain but to no avail, and the game petered out to a 0-0 draw, despite the late dismissal of Ferguson for two yellow cards.
Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish replaced the ineligible Joe Hart with Maik Taylor. Emmanuel Adebayor was again missing for Manchester City with a back spasm, meaning Roque Santa Cruz kept his place after his goal in the League Cup in midweek.
The opening chance of game fell to the home side after six minutes. Barry Ferguson dispossessed Gareth Barry, but after breaking into the box, he could only pull his left foot shot wide.
They came agonisingly close two minutes later when Christian Benitez ran at the City defence, and his shot from 20 yards deflected off a defender and was expertly turned onto the post by Given.
Benitez was in the action soon after, but once he was clean through on goal, his shot lacked conviction and was kept out by Given.
The visitors began to come back into the game approaching the quarter hour mark, and only the leg of Roger Johnson kept the sides level after Craig Bellamy’s shot looked to have beaten Taylor.
Shaun Wright-Phillips tried his luck from the edge of the box with a dipping shot, but Taylor did well to keep the ball out.
The home side’s high octane start had dipped, but McFadden tried to inject new impetus into his side’s play with a long range shot that forced Given into a fingertip save.
Good pressure from Sebastien Larsson and Cameron Jerome led to Lee Bowyer firing a shot from the edge of the box that was smothered by Given, who did well to reclaim the ball at the second attempt under pressure from Ferguson.
City began the second half better than the first, and created the first opportunity through Carlos Tevez, but his 30 yard shot went harmlessly over.
Birmingham were awarded a penalty after 55 minutes, after Nigel De Jong was adjudged to have handled the ball when jumping for a high ball with Larsson.
However, McFadden’s penalty was too close to Given and the Irish ‘keeper punched the ball away.
Joleon Lescott should have done better from a corner on the hour mark, but his shot from six yards lacked power and was straight at Taylor.
Birmingham went straight up the other end, and Jerome’s headed just over at the back post after being found by Larsson’s cross.
After a flurry of substitutions, the visitors were back on the front foot and Tevez tested Taylor with a driven shot from 20 yards.
A lengthy delay due to an injury picked up by Johnson altered the flow of play, an dboth sides struggled to get any real attempts on goal.
Tevez tried one last shot in vain but to no avail, and the game petered out to a 0-0 draw, despite the late dismissal of Ferguson for two yellow cards.
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