City started the match brightly before dealing with a succession of unproductive Bury corners. City were looking the more likely to score but the home side weathered the storm and the sides went in goalless at half time.
10 minutes into the second half, Paul Musselwhite tipped a Gareth Seddon shot over. Peter Taylor then brought on Stuart Green as City looked to take the match to Bury.
Ben Burgess fired over and Jason Price had two shots saved, before City almost found the wrong net. Damien Delaney's backpass went past Musselwhite on the edge of his box, but it went out for a corner.
Danny Allsopp was denied a penalty, as were Bury after the ball struck Justin Whittle's arm, but the last notable action was the sending off of Ian Ashbee in the 90th minute. He went down in the box under a challenge from Danny Swailes, and was booked for diving. Having already been booked for a 6th minute foul, the Tigers skipper was given his marching orders.
City stay top of the league, 2 points clear of Oxford who also drew last night.
City line-up (4-4-2): Musselwhite; Thelwell, Whittle, Delaney, Dawson; Price (France 65), Ashbee, Keates (Green 58), Holt; Allsopp (Forrester 79), Burgess.
Un-used subs: Fettis, Hinds.