Man City's Premier League Title Hopes Fade Further in Goalless Norwich Draw

Manchester City have overcome similar odds before, but this time feels different. After a goalless draw at Norwich City on Saturday, Manuel Pellegrini's men saw their Premier League title chances take yet another hit—one that might prove fatal.

There's still time, sure, and as long as there's time, City will retain hope. But with nine matches remaining in the 2015-16 season, the Sky Blues sit nine points off the top of the table in fourth place.

In other words, it's not just a long shot. At this point, City need a miracle.

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It's happened previously, of course. Four years ago, Roberto Mancini's City had an eight-point deficit with six matches to go. But thanks to a season-ending six-game winning streak—and a memorable stoppage-time winner from Sergio Aguero on the final day—that squad pipped rivals Manchester United to the title on goal difference.

So it's possible, no matter how unlikely. But for those paying attention, this season is incomparable. Four years ago, Man City were stout on the road and nearly untouchable at home (winning 18 of their 19 games). Neither is the case this time, with the Sky Blues losing four times at the Etihad Stadium and averaging just a goal a game on their travels, per ESPN FC.

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What's more, three teams would have to throw away their own title chances in order for City to claim an unlikely crown. Manchester United were a formidable foe four years ago, but the crowded field might be more difficult to overcome this time around.

In a bluntly forceful destruction of City's title hopes, Rob Pollard wrote at the Manchester Evening News: "It's a disastrous result for City and surely now talk of the title will subside. They haven't won back-to-back Premier League games for over five months and, quite simply, don't deserve to win the league."

Of more immediate concern might be West Ham United. Charging hard up the table, Slaven Bilic's men are just two points behind City and the Premier League's final UEFA Champions League spot. The title might well and truly be gone, but Europe still needs fighting for.

So what's gone wrong? Injuries have taken a terrible toll, but on Saturday, the problem came down to something else. Dominant in possession from start to finish, City were unable to turn that supremacy into clear chances. Norwich failed to notch a shot on target, yet their goalkeeper, John Ruddy, wasn't particularly busy apart from a few first-half efforts by Aguero.

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Faced with breaking down Norwich's stubborn resistance, City simply couldn't find a way through. Wilfried Bony, starting ahead of Kelechi Iheanacho, was anonymous, and the hosts battered David Silva at every opportunity. Jesus Navas supplied width and provided a threat but couldn't create a goal with his crossing from the right.

Only at the back did City see a standout performance—from captain Vincent Kompany. But to stay in the title race, the visitors needed a difference-maker at the other end of the pitch. On this day at least, Pellegrini and City didn't have the firepower.

"Of course we should create more in the last third," Pellegrini told BBC Sport. "We were static up front. Every time that you drop points it is harder, but you must continue thinking in a positive way. We must always try to win the title while we mathematically can."

Pellegrini is right to keep the faith, but even the mathematics won't be able to save City's flagging title chances for much longer.

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