Fulham boss Mark Hughes gained sweet revenge for his dismissal as Manchester City manager 14 months ago by virtually ending their Premier League title challenge as Fulham claimed a point in a 1-1 draw.
Damien Duff's leveller just after half-time was enough to deny the Blues victory, leaving them 10 points adrift of leaders Manchester United, having played a game more.
And ill-feeling between Blues' bosses past and present erupted with an angry exchange at the final whistle, when Roberto Mancini did not appear to look at his predecessor at the post-match handshake, leading to Hughes pulling his hand away in disgust.
Mancini has far more to worry about.
If Tottenham and Chelsea win their games in hand, City will find themselves outside the top four.
And, having complained so often about the huge number of fixtures his team are having to play, Mancini must be concerned about how meekly they faded once the Cottagers had levelled Mario Balotelli's ninth goal of the season.
| Match Stats |
Man City |
Fulham |
| Goals |
1 |
1 |
| Possession |
51% |
49% |
| Goal attempts |
14 |
11 |
| On Target |
4 |
4 |
| Passing Success |
76.1% |
76.0% |
| Tackles |
28 |
26 |
| Tackles Success |
67.9% |
76.9% |
| Corners |
10 |
1 |
| Off-sides |
2 |
1 |
| Saves |
3 |
3 |
| Fouls |
16 |
13 |
| Yellows |
1 |
2 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: Soccernet/SkySports |
Having let a number of squad men leave on loan, Mancini now finds injury robbing him of others and far better will be required on Wednesday if City are to dispose of Aston Villa to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Fulham headed north boasting a proud record of just one defeat in their last seven league encounters at City.
The most famous, a 3-2 win three seasons ago after the Blues had taken a two-goal lead, saved them from the drop.
These days, City are a far stronger outfit, as Fulham boss Mark Hughes could testify given he was sacked 14 months ago because owner Sheikh Mansour felt the Welshman had fallen marginally short of the exacting standards he was set.
Hughes' successor Roberto Mancini is doing better, although he has spent another huge pot of money to achieve it.
Yet, with David Silva missing due to an ankle problem and City in the middle of what could turn into 15 matches in seven weeks, the hosts were a lacklustre during the opening stages.
Balotelli went close on a couple of occasions but so did Fulham, whose skipper Danny Murphy watched his rising drive fly over midway through the half.
With the atmosphere flat as well, City needed something to raise them.
For once, Carlos Tevez, sporting a tight perm, was outdone, both in the fashion stakes and who should score.
Balotelli's 'Mr T-style' dyed blonde hair was fairly distinctive. His goal was better.
Exchanging a couple of short passes with Tevez, the Italy striker was given too much room by Murphy and promptly despatched an excellent shot past Mark Schwarzer.
Had Aleksandar Kolarov showed even a small amount of awareness when he streaked into the box minutes later, City would have had a second.
Instead, the Serbian ignored a posse of expectant team-mates, smashing a shot into the side-netting from an impossible angle.
Fulham kept battling, although there was rather too much aggression from Clint Dempsey, who after engaging in bad-tempered exchanges with Gareth Barry, Yaya Toure and Pablo Zabaleta, was summoned by referee Peter Walton to receive a lecture from Murphy.
But Dempsey's attitude belied a fierce Fulham determination. And within two minutes of the restart they were level.
The execution was simplicity itself.
Brede Hangeland sent Andrew Johnson flying down the right wing.
The former Everton star galloped on a few paces before drilling a cross low into the area, which Duff arrived with perfect timing to tuck home from close range.
As City's response was limited to a Balotelli mis-kick after Zabaleta had taken advantage of Hangeland's slip to pull a cross back to the near post and holes were appearing with alarming regularity in the hosts' midfield, Edin Dzeko was sacrificed as Mancini abandoned his three-man attack.
The extra solidity Patrick Vieira brought to midfield nearly paid dividends too as Balotelli lifted a pass over the Fulham defence to release Tevez.
Mark Schwarzer got his angles right though, pushing the South American's effort just wide.
The veteran Australian needed every inch of his massive frame to touch a dipping Kolarov effort over as City began to build up some momentum, although as it turned out, Fulham looked more plausible winners in the latter stages.
Dempsey and Dembele both went close as Duff terrorised the City defence from his right flank station.
Balotelli suffered the ire of his own supporters when he blazed over two minutes' from time, which proved to be City's last chance.
Mark Hughes has revealed his anger at the reaction of successor Roberto Mancini to his offer of a post-match handshake at Eastlands.
The delight at a fully merited result turned to annoyance when Mancini appeared not to look at Hughes as the pair shook hands, leading the Welshman to withdraw in clear annoyance.
"I am old-fashioned,'' he said. "I always think you should offer your hand in whatever circumstances, no matter how difficult it is. I did it and did it with sincerity after my team had been beaten 4-1 at Craven Cottage earlier in this season.
"I acknowledged his team were better. Maybe I misread it but I don't feel Roberto really acknowledged the efforts of my team and what we had done by the manner he offered his hand, by not looking at me.''
Mancini countered with the accusation Hughes had done exactly the same thing in November following one of City's best performances of the season.
"In London he did the same,'' said Mancini. "I know he said something but I couldn't understand what. For you (journalists) it is maybe the best thing in the match, for me, no. It is not important. He (Hughes) should be happy. His team got a draw against us.''
Mario Balotelli had put City ahead with his ninth goal of the season, although Mancini was not overly impressed by the Italian's performance.
"No, I am not happy with him,'' said Mancini. "He scored a good goal but I am not happy. He should play well, better than today. For strikers it is important to score. But strikers should also play for the team.
"I don't just mean Balotelli, but Carlos and Dzeko as well. They should always play for the team. Mario can play better.''
Balotelli's performance coupled with the difficulties City had mastering the Fulham midfield, leading to Edin Dzeko's departure after an hour, may lead to Mancini temporarily abandoning his three-man strike force in the search for a victory in Wednesday's FA Cup fifth round tie with Aston Villa.
"Sometimes players can play badly,'' he said. "You cannot always play well. But the attitude is always important. If you don't have a good attitude, it is difficult to play with three strikers.''
Hughes felt his players had helped him gain a sense of satisfaction at the club that sacked him.
"I don't have any regrets,'' said Hughes. "City are a fantastic club and they have some great people here. I met people I was really fond of today. I have not had chance to do that since I was sacked.
"Everybody has pride and it was important for our staff and their families. To get a result like that is important for a lot of people.''
Man City Hart, Boateng, K Toure, Lescott, Kolarov (Milner 77), Y Toure, Barry, Zabaleta, Tevez, Balotelli, Dzeko (Vieira 60).
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Wright-Phillips, Jo, Wabara, Guidetti.
Booked: Balotelli.
Goals: Balotelli 26.
Fulham Schwarzer, Baird, Hughes, Hangeland, Salcido, Duff, Etuhu, Murphy, Dempsey, Johnson (Gudjohnsen 79), Dembele.
Subs Not Used: Stockdale, Kelly, Gera, Kakuta, Greening, Davies.
Booked: Johnson (34,f), Murphy (85,f ).
Goals: Duff 48. (left-footed into bottom-left of goal from the
centre of penalty area.. Assist (pass) by Andrew Johnson from right wing.)
Att: 43,077
Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).