Manchester City had to settle for a point as they continued their unbeaten start to the season against Everton at the Etihad Stadium.

Roberto Mancini has now won just once in seven meetings against the Toffees since arriving in the blue half of Manchester, but will the draw as two points lost having won six out of seven games on home soil.

The Merseyside club have stuttered of late following a blistering start to the campaign, sharing the spoils for a third game in succession and haven't tasted victory since beating Sunderland on 10 November.

Goalscoring opportunities were few and far between as both sides adopted a cautious approach during the opening phase of the game.

And it was the visitors to strike first blood in the 33rd minute, Marouane  Fellaini needing to bites of the cherry to beat Joe Hart, bundling the ball home with his thigh after the City keeper had saved his header from Leighton Baines' cross.

The hosts responded in robust fashion and went close to an equaliser when Tim Howard clawed Edin Dzeko's strike round the post before the Bosnian won his side a penalty two minutes shy of the half time, going to ground after Fellaini tugged his shirt in the area.

Referee Lee Probert immediately pointed to the spot and Carlos Tevez stepped up to beat Howard from 12 yards, firing the ball straight down the centre.

Fellaini then forced Hart into a low save just before the break but it proved to be Everton's last clear cut chance of the game as they struggled to contain the home side in the second half.

Howard did well to keep out a powerful, swerving effort from Maicon with Mancini sending Sergio Aguero on for Carlos Tevez with 20 minutes to go but the Argentinian couldn't provide the inspiration to find a winner.