Manchester City headed to West Ham United this evening looking to draw level on points at the top of the Premier League table with rivals Manchester United.
As it was, the champions were largely frustrated by their hosts, who stood firm throughout the contest.
Find out how the match unfolded with our minute-by-minute updates below.
Afternoon all. So, the champions will round off Saturday's Premier League action with a tricky looking trip to West Ham. On paper it looks to be an intriguing game - let's hope it delivers.
Before we get into the pre-match chat and statistics, the team news is out...
Man City X1: Hart; Kolo Toure, Kompany, Nastasic, Clichy; Yaya Toure, Nasri, Milner; Tevez, Dzeko, Balotelli
Well that lineup is certainly a message of intent from Roberto Mancini. He is starting this match with three strikers, although both Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli have the ability to drop deeper and help out the midfield. Meanwhile, England defender Joleon Lescott continues to sit on the bench.
West Ham X1: Jaaskelainein; O'Brien, McCartney, Collins, Reid; Noble, Nolan, Diame, Jarvis, Benayoun; Carroll
So, Andy Carroll starts as a lone centre-forward for the hosting Hammers. It's by no means a negative selection from Sam Allardyce though because Kevin Nolan, Matt Jarvis and Yoss Benayoun are all forward-thinking midfielders.
Talking of Carroll - he appears to enjoy playing against Man City. The striker has found the net on four occasions against the champions during his stints with Newcastle United and Liverpool. He'll no doubt fancy his chances today with the way that City have been defending. They've conceded 22 goals in all competitions already this season.
Right, we've got full times from the other Premier League matches coming at us from angles. Let's bring you those now...
Swansea 1-1 Chelsea and Tottenham 0-1 Wigan are the two standout results. The two Manchester clubs in particular will be pleased with the Chelsea result.
Fulham 2-2 Everton, Sunderland 0-1 Aston Villa and Norwich 1-0 Stoke rounds off the remaining results.
All of that leaves the Premier League table looking like this.
So, where this fixture is concerned, a win for City will put them on the same points as rivals and leaders United. A victory of four goals or more will put them top on goal difference. For West Ham, maximum points will take them fifth, while a big win will lift them up to fourth and one place behind their visitors.
The history books will have you believe that City are the most likely to emerge victorious from this one. They have won seven of the last eight meetings between the two teams.
What's even more worrying for West Ham is the fact that they have only scored nine times in their last 15 league matches against City. Also, in none of those encounters have they managed to score more than once! However, they didn't have Carroll for those matches. He has a habit of haunting City, as mentioned earlier.
INJURY! Bad news for James Milner, who has been forced to withdraw from the City starting lineup because of an injury that he has sustained in the warm-up. His England colleague Gareth Barry will take his place.
Staying with City, one player that has earned his place in the starting lineup in recent weeks is Edin Dzeko. He may not be the best footballer to watch, but you cannot argue with his goalscoring record. In fact, in the Premier League this season he has scored a goal every 55 minutes! No other player boasts a better record than that at the moment.
And a little bit more on the Milner injury - the England international has damaged his hamstring. Not surprised, it's pretty nippy out there today!
Right, here come the players to a big reception from the home faithful. The traditional 'I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles' rings out around Upton Park.
The two captains, Kevin Nolan and Vincent Kompany are now doing the coin toss. Incidentally, the man with the coin and the whistle is Howard Webb. We'll be underway shortly.
West Ham, kicking from right to left, get us started...
Early attack from Man City sees Samir Nasri attempt to play in Balotelli. However, the French midfielder's pass has too much power and the chance goes a begging.
The way City have started this encounter, Dzeko is right of a three-man forward line. Not too sure that the Bosnian is suited to that role. It's not like he is overly blessed with pace.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Almost the perfect start for West Ham as captain Kevin Nolan strokes the ball past Joe Hart from close range. His celebrations are caught short though by the linesman's flag. Replays show that the official got the decision wrong - Nolan was onside! Big escape for City.
We've got an injury stoppage as West Ham's Mark Noble goes down in pain after he blocked Dzeko's shot.
CHANCE! First sight of goal for City and they go close. Nasri stings the palms of West Ham goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen from distance, before Dzeko sends the rebound wide of the target.
CHANCE! Some good play between West Ham pair Matt Jarvis and Mohamed Diame ends with the latter firing just over Hart's bar from 18 yards out. It's been a good start from the Hammers.
Man City have a free kick around 20 yards from in a dangerous situation. Tevez will take...
...But it is one to forget for the Argentine striker. His technique is all wrong and the ball flies well over the bar.
OFF THE BAR! Another chance for West Ham as Jarvis's deep cross picks out Benayoun, who volleys against the bar with Hart beaten. The Israeli probably should have found the net there.
CHANCE! And still the search for Andy Carroll's first West Ham goal continues. He collects a loose ball on the edge of the area but drags his low shot just wide of the post. Had his effort been on target, Hart was struggling to get there.
Have to say that with 25 minutes gone, it's been a very even contest so far. Both sides have had chances, the better of which have fallen to West Ham.
It's been a lot of nearly football from the visitors. Their latest attack ends with Dzeko putting too much pace on a through pass for Kolo Toure. They seem to be missing the craft of David Silva, but then, who wouldn't?!
West Ham are being made to defend at the moment. City are seeing a lot of the ball now, but as yet the home rearguard is holding firm.
WHAT A MISS! One moment Balotelli is great, the next he isn't! This was one of his not so good moments. Tevez whipped in a cross that was met by an unmarked Balotelli, who somehow lifted the ball over the bar from six yards out. Perhaps he should have used his head rather than his foot.
There could be another injury problem for City in the form of Yaya Toure. The big midfielder is not moving at all freely at the moment with a leg problem.
CHANCE! Another one bites the dust for Balotelli. Kolo Toure does well to get to the byline and cut the ball back for the Italian. However, his instant shot flies well wide of the target.
City continue the be the side that are seeing more of the ball, but the Balotelli chances aside, they've done very little with it.
One minute of stoppage time...
HALF-TIME: West Ham 0-0 Man City
Well, West Ham will be heading into break unhappy to be level after Nolan's goal was wrongly ruled out for offside. They've also hit the bar. For City, they have had plenty of the ball, but have done very little with it. They look to be missing the creativity of David Silva 20 or so yards from goal.
And here is our half-time report from Upton Park. Enjoy!
Here's a couple of stats that may explain Balotelli's form in front of goal today. He's not scored in his last 10 Premier League matches, which dates back to March. Also, his last away goal in the top flight came back in December 2011 at Chelsea. Why always me hey?!
The players are on the way back out. Surely we'll get goals in this half, won't we?
Man City get us back underway...
DOUBLE CHANCE! Man City are in the ascendancy and really should be in front. First Balotelli swings and misses from close range, before Tevez sees his low drive held by Jaaskelainen.
A big escape for West Ham keeper Jaaskelainen, who drops Tevez's corner. Thankfully for the former Bolton man his defence is on hand to clear the danger.
City are really dominating this fixture at the present. West Ham are conceding possession whenever they get it far too easily. It's just not sticking up front for Carroll.
CHANCE! Spectacular effort from Carroll, who tries to acrobatically convert a cross from George McCartney. However, Gael Clichy gets a block in and the ball flies just wide of the post. That's better from West Ham.
CHANCE! Tevez has just showed the Balotelli in him there as he fires high, wide and not very handsome after being put through by the Italian. He was only eight yards from goal.
SUBSTITUTION: An unhappy looking Balotelli is replaced by Sergio Aguero. He lets his manager know how he feels about that decision, while Mancini gives him his opinion in return! Nice to see some harmony!
SUBSTITUTION: Now it's West Ham's turn to make a change as Diame comes off and Gary O'Neill comes on.
It's all City at the moment. The best that West Ham can muster are clearances that simply fall to the visiting defence. From there, another attack is mounted.
SUBSTITUTION: Carroll will have to wait another day for his first goal of the season as he is replaced by Carlton Cole, who also is yet to find the net this campaign!
SAVE! Smart reflexes from Jaaskelainen see him deny Aguero at the near post. That chance came about after the West Ham defence had switched off from a free kick situation.
BOOKING! McCartney gets his name taken for a late lunge on Barry, who had got beyond the West Ham defender.
SUBSTITUTION: A strange chance from Mancini, who has replaced striker Tevez with the defence-minded Javi Garcia. West Ham also make a change with the injured James Collins being switched with Jordan Spence.
SUBSTITUTION: Last throw of the dice from Manicni, who brings on Scott Sinclair in place of Nasri.
Three minutes of stoppage time to be played...
FULL TIME: West Ham 0-0 Man City
Well the biggest winners today our Manchester United. They've seen Chelsea lose and now they have witnessed City dropping points at West Ham. Despite having more of the ball, visiting City rarely looked like scoring. Mancini is bound to be concerned with the lack of creative spark that his side possessed. In contrast, Allardyce should be delighted with the way that his side defended.
That's about all we have time for here. Thanks for joining us and be sure to check out analysis from Upton Park, which will be coming your way shortly.
