The Tigers drew for the second week running as they claimed a richly deserved point from a 0-0 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
City frustrated their hosts throughout and had chances to win the game, but in the end will be delighted with a point.
Geovanni came into the starting line-up for the Tigers to replace the suspended Bernard Mendy in the only change to Phil Brown's side.
Nick Barmby returned from injury to take a place on the bench, although there was no place for striker Caleb Folan.
Chelsea were without first choice goalkeeper Petr Cech, who was forced to miss the game with a back problem, so Henrique Hilario took over between the posts.
Recent signing Ricardo Quaresma started for the Blues.
City started with a 4-4-1-1 formation.
Richard Garcia played down the right with Geovanni operating just behind Craig Fagan.
Chelsea missed a great chance in only the second minute.
Frank Lampard's free kick from the left fell to John Terry three yards out, but he lifted the ball over the bar when it seemed easier to score.
The home side were doing all the early running and forced a fifth minute corner, although City managed to deal with it.
City's first attempt on goal came in the tenth minute when Fagan played the ball for Geovanni to shoot at goal, but his 25-yard effort flew wide.
Geovanni's deflected shot brought City a corner on 19 minutes.
Dean Marney's ball in found Michael Turner at the back post but his header back across goal was cleared.
The ball dropped to Kevin Kilbane, but his poor touch sent Chelsea away on a counter attack which ended with Matt Duke producing a fine save from Quaresma.
Good defending from Kamil Zayatte prevented Nicolas Anelka from having an easy tap-in on 22 minutes while Alex headed Lampard's corner off target.
Lampard then saw his shot from the edge of the box deflected wide by Ian Ashbee.
A strong run from Geovanni was ended abruptly and illegally by Mikel on the edge of the box.
The Chelsea man was booked for the foul while Geovanni lifted the resulting free kick over the bar.
At the other end, Michael Ballack's free kick found the side netting.
City were giving as good as they were getting and Fagan was just off target with a strike from 25 yards.
Brown's side almost hit the front five minutes before the break when Sam Ricketts crossed for Kevin Kilbane, but his header went wide via the far post.
City went close again as the first half entered added time when Marney's free kick was glanced just over his own bar by Terry.
Half Time: Tigers 0-0 Chelsea
Ashbee was booked early in the second half for a foul on Ballack.
City's first chance of the second half came on 50 minutes when Marney's free kick found Geovanni, but somehow the ball stayed out of the net.
Fagan then wasted a great chance.
After beating Mikel to the ball, the striker found himself through on goal, but he tried to be too clever and attempted to chip a shot over Hilario.
With not enough height on the chip, the Chelsea goalkeeper gratefully claimed the ball.
Chelsea introduced Didier Drogba as they looked to build some attacking momentum.
The fact that he replaced Quaresma didn't go down well with the home support.
Meanwhile, City's away following was at its vocal best.
Marney should have given City the lead on 68 minutes after being played in by Geovanni, but he dragged his shot narrowly wide of the far post.
At the other end, Chelsea had decent shouts for a penalty turned down when the ball appeared to strike the arm of Andy Dawson in the box.
Jose Bosingwa's foul on Kilbane gave City a free kick on the left edge of the box, but Geovanni blasted a shot well over the bar.
Chelsea threatened when Kalou broke through the centre, but Duke saved his shot low down to the left.
Garcia picked up a 80th-minute yellow card for a foul on Alex.
City's first change followed a minute later as Ryan France replaced Geovanni.
A mistake from Alex let Fagan in with a minute to go, but Terry covered well.
From the resulting corner, Ashbee fired wide at the far post.
Tigers (4-4-1-1) Matt Duke; Sam Ricketts, Michael Turner, Kamil Zayatte, Andy Dawson; Richard Garcia, Ian Ashbee [captain], Dean Marney, Kevin Kilbane; Geovanni (France 81); Craig Fagan.
Subs: Boaz Myhill, Nathan Doyle, Ryan France, Bryan Hughes, Peter Halmosi, Nick Barmby, Manucho.
Bookings: Ashbee 48, Garcia 80.
Chelsea (4-1-4-1) Henrique Hilario; Jose Bosingwa, Alex, John Terry [captain], Ashley Cole; Mikel (Belletti 57); Ricardo Quaresma (Drogba 63), Michael Ballack (Deco 73), Frank Lampard, Salomon Kalou; Nicolas Anelka.
Subs: Rhys Taylor, Branislav Ivanovic, Franco Di Santo, Didier Drogba, Deco, Juliano Belletti, Miroslav Stoch.
Bookings: Obi Mikel 27
