LONDON, Nov 7: Manchester United's hopes of catching up with Premiership pacesetters Chelsea and Arsenal suffered another setback on Sunday as the Red Devils were held to a goalless draw by local rivals Manchester City.

Without the suspended Ruud van Nistelrooy, United comfortably dominated the derby clash at Old Trafford.

But, as so often this season, a failure to take the chances that came their way ended up costing Sir Alex Ferguson's side precious points.

Ryan Giggs, who started the match on the bench, squandered the best chance to secure victory when Louis Saha's clever reverse pass left him with only David James to beat.

The winger attempted to place his shot past the former England goalkeeper but succeeded only in brushing the side netting.

The afternoon was made even more frustrating for the home side two minutes from the end of regulation time when Alan Smith was ordered off after earning a second yellow card for a reckless challenge on Richard Dunne, the City defender who had done so much to nullify United's attacking threat.

The draw leaves United 11 points adrift of Chelsea and their chances of catching the leaders are receding fast.

In the day's other games, Bolton and Middlesbrough shared the points in a dramatic encounter at the Riverside while Newcastle were left stunned by a 4-1 home defeat at the hands of Fulham.

The Londoners had taken the lead through Collins John against the run of play but only a string of superb saves from Mark Crossley preserved their advantage to the interval.

But as the Magpies pushed forward after the break they were ruthlessly picked off on the counter attack by Fulham's playmaker Steed Malbranque.

The Frenchman scored twice himself, the second from the spot, then set up pacy Portuguese winger Luis Boa Morte for his side's fourth.

Craig Bellamy headed in a consolation goal for Newcastle but by then there was no way back for Graeme Souness's side.

Middlesbrough needed an injury time strike George Boateng to salvage a point at home to Bolton.

The Dutch midfielder latched on to the rebound from a Ray Parlour shot and smashed an unstoppable volley past Bolton's reserve goalkeeper Kevin Poole in the second minute of stoppage time to cancel out Henrik Pedersen's 72nd minute strike for the visitors.

Anything less than a point would have been harsh on Boro, who had hit the woodwork twice and were then denied a penalty four minutes from time when Bolton 'keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen pulled down Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink right on the edge of the box.

The Dutch striker had been sent clear of Bolton's back four by Boro 'keeper Mark Schwarzer's huge punt and looked certain to score when he was brought down.

The referee had no option but to send the Finn off but the official looked to have blundered when he opted to award a free-kick outside the box rather than a penalty.

Television replays suggested the contact had come, at the very least, right on the 18-yard line and that a penalty could have been given.

Boro failed to make anything of the free-kick but they finally found the net when Poole failed to hold Parlour's fierce, swerving strike.

Typically, Bolton's goal came from a set-piece, in this case El Hadji Diouf's corner from the left.

Big French defender Bruno N'Gotty got above the Boro defence to head the ball goalwards but his weak contact meant it still required Pedersen, loitering with intent on the line, to flick the ball wide of Schwarzer and into the net.

Results: