Ten-man AC Milan hold Roma to goalless draw

AC Milan did their former coach Massimiliano Allegri a favour by holding Roma to a 0-0 draw with 10 men at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday evening.

The result means Allegri's Juventus take a three-point lead over Roma into 2015 with the Giallorossi unable to break down Milan, who lost Pablo Armero to a red card in the 70th minute.

For their part, Milan missed the opportunity to move up to third in the table and will instead start the new year behind at least six other clubs in the Serie A standings.

Roma had much the better of the first half with Gervinho menacing down the left and Alessandro Florenzi looking keen to take a rare chance he was granted by Garcia.

Milan were forced to defend their goal with Jeremy Menez left alone up front, giving the impression of a side punching above their weight and hoping to get away with a draw.

The Rossoneri's recent form would not suggest any need for such an inferiority complex, though, and after weathering the early storm, they came out of their shells to cause a nervous-looking Morgan De Sanctis a few problems in the Roma goal, most notably with Philippe Mexes' shot.

The guests transformed the game in the second half, up until the point it stopped being 11 against 11.

Armero picked up a second yellow card for handball with Roma's Seydou Keita demanding the referee Nicola Rizzoli dismissed the Milan defender, who eventually saw red amid opposing protests from both groups of players.