Jimmy Bullard's penalty eight minutes from time saw the Tigers secure a point against Manchester City at Eastlands on Saturday afternoon.

The Tigers had fallen behind on the stroke of half time when Shaun Wright-Phillips saw his shot deflected home, but Phil Brown's side came back in the second half to claim a deserved point.

Bullard came in for George Boateng as the only change to the Tigers' side.

Manchester City welcomed back Robinho from injury and Kolo Toure started despite earlier doubts about his fitness.

The home side made the brighter start, winning a couple of corners in the opening three minutes but the Tigers stood firm to defend them.

Confusion in the home defence gave Phil Brown's side a chance in the seventh minute.

Richard Garcia's cross was allowed through to Stephen Hunt beyond the far post.

He played the ball back across goal, but nobody was on hand to apply a finish.

Manchester City went close on 17 minutes when Stephen Ireland flicked Micah Richards' cross just over the bar.

At the other end, Geovanni fired over from 25 yards.

The home side went close again in the 20th minute when Robinho cut in from the left before curling a shot just past the far post.

Matt Duke then denied Carlos Tevez with his legs after the Tigers' defence had been broken through far too easily.

A stunning move from the home side involving Robinho and Ireland ended with Wright-Phillips firing a shot into the side-netting in the 31st minute.

Andy Dawson was shown the first yellow card of the game two minutes later for a challenge from behind on Wright-Phillips.

A patient move from the Tigers saw them get plenty of players forward on 38 minutes, but Paul McShane headed Garcia's cross wide while a swift break moments later saw Geovanni fire a shot straight at Shay Given.

But it was Manchester City who took the lead in added time at the end of the first half.

Wright-Phillips unleashed a shot from 20 yards which took a deflection off Anthony Gardner before finding the net.

Half Time: Tigers 0-1 Man City

The Tigers went straight on the attack after half time and almost levelled when Altodore found Garcia in the box.

His shot beat Given, but was cleared off the line by Joleon Lescott.

Brown's side then survived loud penalty appeals when Wright-Phillips appeared to be brought down in the box.

Luckily, the referee wasn't interested.

Nigel de Jong was booked in the 57th minute for a foul on Dean Marney.

Jimmy Bullard's solo run carried him from his own half to the edge of the home box and with no suitable support, he blasted a shot just wide.

Brown made a double change on 62 minutes as Boateng and Nick Barmby replaced Marney and Geovanni.

The home side replaced Emmanuel Adebayor with Roque Santa Cruz in the 68th minute while two minutes later, Kamil Zayatte was booked for a late challenge.

The Tigers' final change came 17 minutes from the end as Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink replaced Altidore.

As the Tigers built up some pressure, they were awarded a penalty with 82 minutes when Garcia's header was handled by Toure.

Bullard stepped up to take it and although Given went the right way, the shot was too powerful for him to save.

In recognition of Phil Brown's well-documented half-time teamtalk at Eastlands last season, the players gleefully celebrated in front of the travelling fans.

But it was mind back on the game time as Manchester City went in search of a winner and Barmby's foul on Ireland presented them with a free kick on the edge og the box.

Tevez took it and saw his effort deflected behind for a corner which the Tigers cleared.

Four minutes of time were added with the game still in the balance.

Tigers (4-4-1-1) Matt Duke; Paul McShane, Kamil Zayatte, Anthony Gardner [captain], Andy Dawson; Richard Garcia, Dean Marney (Boateng 62), Jimmy Bullard, Stephen Hunt; Geovanni (Barmby 62); Jozy Altidore (Vennegoor of Hesselink 73).

Subs: Boaz Myhill, Steven Mouyokolo, Kevin Kilbane, George Boateng, Nick Barmby, Kamel Ghilas, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Bookings: Dawson 33, McShane 46, Zayatte 70.

Manchester City (4-2-3-1) Shay Given; Micah Richards, Kolo Toure [captain], Joleon Lescott, Wayne Bridge; Stephen Ireland, Nigel de Jong; Shaun Wright-Phillips, Carlos Tevez, Robinho (Bellamy 76); Emmanuel Adebayor (Santa Cruz 68).

Subs: Stuart Taylor, Nedum Onuoha, Michael Johnson, Roque Santa Cruz, Vincent Kompany, Craig Bellamy, Vladimir Weiss.

Bookings: De Jong 57.