Smith sent off as United are held
 |  Smith was sent off as Manchester United were held by rivals City |
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LONDON, England -- Manchester United's title ambitions took another blow on Sunday when they were held to a goalless draw at home by Manchester City and had Alan Smith sent off.
Alex Ferguson was hoping to celebrate his appointment as United manager 18 years ago this weekend with a derby win that would have closed the gap on leaders Chelsea to nine points.
"Maybe there's the big game factor," Ferguson said by way of explanation for United's free-scoring form in the Champions League as opposed to poor domestic finishing.
"Maybe the mundane challenge of the Premier League is not the same," he told Sky Sports.
"But the belief's still there, we've dominated the game... we created some great chances. We're suffering at the moment."
United's strikers failed to score for the second Premier League game in a row and the team have failed to capitalise on their 2-0 home victory over champions Arsenal two weeks ago.
To make matters worse for United, a frustrated Smith was dismissed for the 10th time in his career for two yellow cards after a late tackle on Dunne in the 89th minute.
Kevin Keegan's City side soaked up United's attacks with defenders Richard Dunne and Sylvain Distin in defiant form.
United had chances to win and, in a frantic opening, City youngster Stephen Jordan rushed back to hook the ball off his own line from Louis Saha's shot.
City's goal remained under siege in the second half with Steve McManaman clearing Smith's overhead kick off his line in the 63rd minute.
Halftime substitute Ryan Giggs then fired narrowly wide after being sent through by Saha's exquisite reverse pass.
Wayne Rooney was introduced with 15 minutes remaining but it was Saha who wasted United's best chance by heading Gigg's cross wide in stoppage time.
Midfielder Steed Malbranque scored twice as lowly Fulham shocked Newcastle United 4-1 hand manager Graeme Souness his first home defeat since taking charge two months ago.
Fulham fire four
Fulham's outstanding player was goalkeeper Mark Crossley, who made a string of superb saves including three in the opening quarter of an hour as Newcastle put the visitors under siege.
Striker Collins John gave Fulham the lead against the run of play when he broke away in the 28th minute to steer a ball from Pape Bouba Diop through keeper Stephen Harper's legs.
Newcastle's manager was sent off to the stands shortly afterwards for protesting that the referee should have given a penalty when striker Alan Shearer was brought down.
Souness said: "We came across Crossley on an inspired day. He's never had a game of football like that in his life before."
Malbranque sealed Newcastle's fate with two goals in six minutes, netting Andy Cole's pass in the 65th minute and adding a penalty in the 71st.
 Boateng, right, salvaged a point for Premiership Middlesbrough | |
Luis Boa Morte scored the fourth goal with a lob from a Malbranque ball out of defense in the 76th minute to wrap up Fulham's first away league win of the season.
Wales striker Craig Bellamy pulled one back a minute later with a header from Lee Bowyer's right wing cross but it was too little, too late to upset Fulham's celebrations.
Midfielder George Boateng volleyed an equalizer two minutes into stoppage time to salvage a 1-1 home draw for Middlesbrough against 10-man Bolton.
Substitute Henrik Pedersen had put Bolton in front in the 72nd minute when he turned a header by Bruno N'Gotty into the net from El Hadji Diouf's corner.
Bolton finished with 10 men after goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen was sent off for bringing down striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink on the edge of the box four minutes from time.
Chelsea, who beat Everton 1-0 at home on Saturday, are top on 29 points, two ahead of second-placed champions Arsenal, who were held 1-1 at Crystal Palace. Everton remain third on 23 points.
