Carvalhal makes a fair point for Owls
OWLS head coach Carlos Carvalhal could not grumble after claiming a point from the high-flying Robins.
The visitors looked the more likely to find a winner at Hillsborough but failed to convert their chances.
Meanwhile, the Owls had a late penalty claim turned down when Barry Bannan tangled with City defender Hordur Magnusson in the penalty area.
But Carvalhal said: “I will not say anything about the referees. We have played 17 games and had no penalties.
“The game was very balanced – we played against a team doing really well in away games. They’ve just lost one game so far.
“We had chances and they also had chances.
“I think the score is correct. There are three or four games in the competition like this. Let’s see if this point will be important at the end of the season.
“We missed a lot of passes which usually we don’t do.
“We try to press the opponent but when we went to press, they used long balls over the back of our defence. It was difficult to keep the ball on the floor.”
Bobby Reid had the game’s best opportunity for Bristol City, clear inside the box on 35 minutes he could only plant his free header straight at keeper Keiren Westwood.
City boss Lee Johnson said: “I’m pleased with a point at a tough place to come.
“We had the better chances. If we’d won 1-0, I don’t think it would have been a smash-and-grab job.
“We wanted to win and we felt we had the tools in our armoury to win. That showed on certain occasions. We nullified our opponents.
“The Wednesday fans got frustrated and to be honest that was because my boys shut the passing lines off.
“The plan was to come here and win. We also came with a plan B. We just need to be a bit more solid in midfield. The intention was to play our game – the high press.
“The only criticism is we couldn’t put a foot on the ball in the last 15 to 20 minutes.
“That’s our ninth clean sheet this season and that’s important.”
THE problem with Manchester City these days – for the rest of the Premier League, at least – is that they have so many wonderful attacking options.
Whether Sergio Aguero or Gabriel Jesus leads the line, whether Raheem Sterling or Leroy Mane gets the nod on the flanks, Pep Guardiola’s men just keep on battering all before them.
The only cloud on the City horizon at the moment is a hamstring injury to defender John Stones.
He pulled up just before the half-hour. Guardiola said: “He will be out for a long time, four to six weeks I think.”
But while City are not short on stars, there is one right now who is simply irreplaceable.
Step forward Kevin De Bruyne. On the evidence of City’s stunning unbeaten opening to the 2017-18 campaign, he is fast becoming the most gifted, creative playmaker in world football.
He also has a knack of scoring thunderous goals, as illustrated perfectly yesterday in the 48th minute at the King Power Stadium when the Belgium ace rattled in a 25-yard scorcher to make it 2-0 and ensure a 16th successive win in all competitions for Guardiola’s runaway league leaders.
Still unstoppable. Still unbeaten and still racing away with the title, this latest triumph makes it an astonishing 34 points from a possible 36 for City.
No surprise then that people really are talking about them matching Arsenal’s Invincibles of 2004 by going an entire league season without losing.
City boss Guardiola is adamant that such records mean nothing compared with trophies and producing entertainment wherever they go.
He said: “I am very satisfied. It’s always complicated to come to a place like Leicester after the international break.
“We’ve had two weeks off but have played amazingly well again. We conceded just one chance, scored two fantastic goals and had so many other chances where the last pass was missing.
“That’s where we still have to improve – the last pass. It was the same against Arsenal in the previous match.
“But it’s three more points – and that keeps a good distance between us and those chasing below.”
Those worried that the race for Premier League glory could be done and dusted in City’s favour before spring will take little comfort from this result.
This was not even one of the visitors’ better displays. However, despite resting Aguero, their almost perfect sequence since August was rarely in danger.
Well not after the Foxes, who themselves were on a six-game unbeaten run, were left hopping mad by referee Graham Scott in the second minute.
Suspension to Nicolas Otamendi meant a first appearance in 12 weeks for City skipper Vincent Kompany. But his return should have been cut short with a red card when he took out Jamie Vardy with a cynical foul that denied the England striker a clear run on goal.
Maybe Scott felt it was too early for a sending-off. Maybe he took pity on the injury-prone Kompany.
It certainly annoyed boss Claude Puel. After his first defeat in the Leicester hotseat, the Frenchman said: “He deserved a red card. It was the first incident to go against us in the game.
“Jamie is the last player, the last striker. The other defender can’t get back because Jamie is too quick.
“Of course, this changes the game. City are a fantastic team – the best in the world at the moment.
“But without this decision going against us, we would have stayed competitive. We are very frustrated.”
City’s early momentum was interrupted when classy Stones was replaced by Eliaquim Mangala.
But before the new pairing of the Frenchman and Kompany could be seriously tested, City broke the deadlock – on the stroke of half-time.
Raheem Sterling was at the hub of it, playing a one-two before finding David Silva, who rolled across a pass for Jesus to score from three yards out. Magic.
The Foxes must have been gutted to go in behind – and that frustration was compounded after the restart.
Firstly, England defender Harry Maguire was denied an equaliser by the post.
Then barely 30 seconds later, City poured forward as only they can and doubled their advantage.
Sane found De Bruyne, who took a couple of touches to create the space to curl in a savage left-foot strike that flew into the top corner.