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Manchester City were frustrated by Mark Schwarzer as their miserable recent run continued with a remarkable defeat at home to Middlesbrough.

Boro failed to produce a single shot on target and City dominated possession and chances - but the visitors won through Sun Jihai's unfortunate 30th-minute own goal.

Trevor Sinclair, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Richard Dunne all tested Schwarzer but City could not break their resilient opponents.

It was City's third successive Premiership defeat, but manager Kevin Keegan will rue the missed chances which cost his side dear.

Keegan dropped Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman - after their lacklustre showing in City's Uefa Cup exit to Groclin in midweek - replacing them with Paulo Wanchope and Claudio Reyna.

But while his side enjoyed more possession than Boro, and created plenty of chances, it was a frustrating opening period.

The home side could have taken the lead on 12 minutes, as Trevor Sinclair hit a long-range shot which Schwarzer did well to tip around the post.

Schwarzer was in action again shortly afterwards, saving a Wanchope header from a Shaun Wright-Phillips cross.

Richard Dunne also headed just over as City put the pressure on Boro, although they could not find a breakthrough.

And they were made to pay for their lack of a cutting edge on 30 minutes when Middlesbrough took the lead.

Juninho took up possession in midfield and fed Gaizka Mendieta, who crossed - and after Dunne miscued his clearance, Sun Jihai somehow managed to divert the ball past Ellegaard.

City continued to push forward, and Boro were thankful to Gareth Southgate who blocked efforts from Wanchope and Trevor Sinclair.

Wanchope also had a penalty appeal turned down after seemingly being impeded by Danny Mills in the box.

And Schwarzer was called into action again, tipping away a piledriver from Reyna, as Boro held out until half-time.

Franck Queudrue's speculative effort in the early stages of the second half flew wide as Boro moved to kill off the match.

But City remained a threat, with Dunne's aerial prowess nearly paying off on 51 minutes as he header just over.

The lively Wright-Phillips blazed a volley just wide, and then forced another save from Schwarzer as City began to wonder if it was to be their day.

Fowler, brought on for Sun Jihai, had a couple of chances, shooting wide and heading at Schwarzer, while Wanchope's ambitious overhead kick was also saved by the Boro keeper.

And Fowler missed a gilt-edged chance near the end to seal ill-fated City's defeat.

Man City: Stuhr-Ellegaard, Jihai (Fowler 66), Dunne, Distin, Sommeil, Wright-Phillips, Reyna, Barton (Sibierski 74), Sinclair, Anelka, Wanchope.
Subs Not Used: Schmeichel, Wiekens, McManaman.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Mills, Southgate, Cooper, Queudrue, Doriva (Greening 36), Boateng (Nemeth 73), Mendieta, Zenden, Ricketts (Riggott 83), Juninho Paulista.
Subs Not Used: Nash, Maccarone.

Attendance: 46,824

Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire).