Manchester United [ Images ] dropped two more valuable points in their pursuit of leaders Arsenal [ Images ] after being held 0-0 at Birmingham City [ Images ] on Saturday.

Despite fielding four quality strikers -- Ruud van Nistelrooy [ Images ], Alan Smith, Wayne Rooney [ Images ] and Louis Saha -- for much of the game, Alex Ferguson's [ Images ] team rarely looked like breaking down a stubborn City defence.

The draw means fourth-placed United, on 14 points, will trail Arsenal by 11 points if the champions beat Aston Villa [ Images ] at Highbury later on Saturday. Birmingham moved up a place to 14th on eight points.

Ferguson opted to leave Rooney on the bench after his midweek exertions for England [ Images ] but Van Nistelrooy did start and came desperately close to giving United the lead after 37 minutes of a poor first half.

Quinton Fortune crossed from the left and the Dutch striker, looking certain to score from point-blank range, sidefooted his shot into the feet of City keeper Maik Taylor.

Taylor saved well from Cristiano Ronaldo [ Images ] and Saha soon after but United were lacking fluency overall and 14 minutes into the second half Ferguson sent on Rooney for midfielder Kleberson [ Images ].

Immediately, though, City striker Emile Heskey tested United keeper Roy Carroll and Birmingham, with Robbie Savage a constant menace in midfield, more than held their own against their illustrious opponents in the remaining half-hour.

Even the introduction of fit-again Paul Scholes late on could not spark the visitors, although Smith whistled a stoppage time drive just wide.

United's tally of five draws from nine games so far, however, speaks volumes for their lack of cutting edge in the Premier League.