Manchester City manager Kevin Keegan came to the defence of Sun Jihai after the Chinese international scored a bizarre own goal which gave Middlesbrough a 1-0 win.

It was City's third successive Premiership defeat and it cames just three days after their disappointing UEFA Cup exit in Poland.

The decisive moment of the match came in the 29th minute when Sun Jihai was caught out by Richard Dunne's failure to clear Gaizka Mendieta's right-wing cross.

His attempt to put the ball clear only resulted in him prodding the ball past Danish goalkeeper Kevin Stuhr-Ellegaard.

"It isn't an issue - as far as I am concerned he is completely blameless," said Keegan of his Chinese full-back.

"There was no way he could do anything about it. It was just a bizarre own goal."

Keegan's side dominated the game but a combination of Middlesbrough defending and the failure of Robbie Fowler and Paulo Wanchope to find the target meant that City have now gone over seven hours without finding the net.

"I have never been involved in a game like that," said Keegan.

"They didn't have a shot or a corner, yet they have got the three points. It was an incredible match and it is hard to believe the result.

"Chances have gone begging at the end but I don't think the players could have given me any more."

Keegan dropped both Fowler and Steve McManaman from the team which started the match against Groclin in the UEFA Cup.

They were denied a penalty when referee Mike Riley failed to spot Danny Mills hauling Wanchope and after replacing Sun Jihai in the second period, Fowler twice failed to hit the target.

"We didn't play well but we got something to defend and did it magnificently," admitted Boro boss Steve McClaren. "It was a performance of true character and both Gareth Southgate and Colin Cooper were superb, as they have been all season."

It was Boro's fifth clean sheet on the trot, a club record, and took the Teessiders into the top half of the table for the first time this season.

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