Manchester City 1 Charlton 1
Manchester City are without a win in 13 matches after they were denied by a late Paolo Di Canio goal for Charlton Athletic - after a controversial penalty award.
Referee Peter Walton awarded The Addicks an 84th minute spot kick after a long ball into the area struck Richard Dunne on the arm after coming through a crowd of players.
Dunne's arm was by his side and the connection was clearly unintentional and the decision was a cruel blow to City, who have been luckless in recent weeks.
David Seaman saved Di Canio's initial kick but could only parry the ball straight back to the Charlton striker, who poked it into the empty net.
Kevin Keegan's side had grown in confidence after taking the lead through Robbie Fowler six minutes before the interval - prior to that neither side could lay claim to deserving much from the game.
Fowler showed he has not lost any of his instincts for snaffling up chances in the area when Nicolas Anelka's surge into the box ended with the ball ricocheting to his strike partner off Chris Perry. Fowler turned the ball past Dean Kiely with the minimum of fuss.
The former Liverpool and England striker fired a warning to the visitors when he headed over from Michael Tarnat's cross after just 40 seconds, before Antoine Sibierski headed straight at Kiely from another Tarnat delivery.
Anelka missed a glorious chance when Paul Bosvelt's pass put him in the clear, but he wanted too many touches and Radostin Kishishev got back to make the saving tackle on the edge of the area.
At the other end, Di Canio was also guilty of a glaring miss when he side-footed wide after being teed up 10 yards out by Jonatan Johansson.
Charlton then claimed a penalty when Dunne tangled with Johansson on the corner of the area, before Distin headed wide from Anelka's corner.
Fowler's goal sparked City into life but they failed to add a crucial second, but it looked like it might be their night when Scott Parker squandered a gilt-edged chance to equalise when he shot straight at Seaman from six yards.
Trevor Sinclair angled a shot a foot wide of the post after Fowler had intelligently flicked on a Sibierski cross and Bosvelt stung Kiely's hands with a fierce drive after more good work from Fowler.
Referee Walton awarded five goalkicks for what should have been corners - four for City and one for Charlton when Seaman carried the ball well over the line after an apalling error of judgement - and capped an erratic display with the decisive late penalty award.
Referee Peter Walton awarded The Addicks an 84th minute spot kick after a long ball into the area struck Richard Dunne on the arm after coming through a crowd of players.
Dunne's arm was by his side and the connection was clearly unintentional and the decision was a cruel blow to City, who have been luckless in recent weeks.
David Seaman saved Di Canio's initial kick but could only parry the ball straight back to the Charlton striker, who poked it into the empty net.
Kevin Keegan's side had grown in confidence after taking the lead through Robbie Fowler six minutes before the interval - prior to that neither side could lay claim to deserving much from the game.
Fowler showed he has not lost any of his instincts for snaffling up chances in the area when Nicolas Anelka's surge into the box ended with the ball ricocheting to his strike partner off Chris Perry. Fowler turned the ball past Dean Kiely with the minimum of fuss.
The former Liverpool and England striker fired a warning to the visitors when he headed over from Michael Tarnat's cross after just 40 seconds, before Antoine Sibierski headed straight at Kiely from another Tarnat delivery.
Anelka missed a glorious chance when Paul Bosvelt's pass put him in the clear, but he wanted too many touches and Radostin Kishishev got back to make the saving tackle on the edge of the area.
At the other end, Di Canio was also guilty of a glaring miss when he side-footed wide after being teed up 10 yards out by Jonatan Johansson.
Charlton then claimed a penalty when Dunne tangled with Johansson on the corner of the area, before Distin headed wide from Anelka's corner.
Fowler's goal sparked City into life but they failed to add a crucial second, but it looked like it might be their night when Scott Parker squandered a gilt-edged chance to equalise when he shot straight at Seaman from six yards.
Trevor Sinclair angled a shot a foot wide of the post after Fowler had intelligently flicked on a Sibierski cross and Bosvelt stung Kiely's hands with a fierce drive after more good work from Fowler.
Referee Walton awarded five goalkicks for what should have been corners - four for City and one for Charlton when Seaman carried the ball well over the line after an apalling error of judgement - and capped an erratic display with the decisive late penalty award.
