West Ham 0 Manchester City 0: Mancini's money men fail to break down Hammers

Roberto Mancini's tinkering backfired again as Manchester City blew the chance to join Manchester United at the top of the Barclays Premier League against West Ham.

Ten days after his three-at-the-back experiment in City's shattering Champions League defeat at Ajax, manager Mancini was at it again at the other end of the pitch at Upton Park.

But the decision to start with Mario Balotelli, Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko in the same XI for the first time failed just as spectacularly as the champions failed to score for the first time in almost seven months.

Tip top: Joe Hart pushes over Yossi Benayoun's effort

On this evidence, City really will need the "miracle" Mancini predicted to rescue their Champions League campaign, starting in Tuesday's revenge mission against Ajax.It could have been even worse for Mancini's men had Kevin Nolan not seen an early goal controversially ruled out for offside as West Ham more than held their own and were marshalled brilliantly by Winston Reid and James Collins.

Their manager's radical tactics are becoming reminiscent of another Italian, famously dubbed 'The Tinkerman', and we all know what happened to Claudio Ranieri.

Mancini yesterday mocked suggestions he could become a victim of the swelling ex-Barcelona influence at City, amid rumours Pep Guardiola may be lined up to replace him.

He refused to deny he reports he came close to agreeing to join Monaco before City's extraordinary title triumph.

Taking a tumble: Edin Dzeko goes down under Mohamed Diame's challenge

Causing a scene: Vincent Kompany appeals for a foul... while Andy Carroll (right) holds his face

He proved he was a gambling man at both ends of the pitch today, handing Kolo Toure his first league start since August and recalling James Milner, although he was forced into a last-minute change when the latter hurt his hamstring in the warm-up and was replaced by Gareth Barry.

That may have scuppered Mancini's Plan A but there were no excuses for the shocking defending that should have seen them behind inside four minutes.

Anything to score: Carroll flings himself at the ball

Complaint: Gareth Barry appeals to Howard Webb

Mark Noble played a simple straight free-kick over the top, which Nolan brilliantly volleyed first time past Joe Hart.

The assistants' flag was up instantly, although replays showed Nolan may have been level.

Five minutes later and City should have been bemoaning an offside flag but Dzeko headed a simple rebound wide anyway after Jussi Jaaskelainen parried Samir Nasri's stinger.