Pep Guardiola‘s side made the ideal start, taking the lead after 24 minutes through Erling Haaland‘s 21st Premier League goal of the season.
The visitors struck back in the second-half, with Demarai Gray levelling with a stunning strike from 18 yards.
Stones, who struck the post with a header with the score at 1-0, was disappointed with missing out on two points but admitted there are still positives to take from the draw.
“I don’t really know what to say. I feel like we’ve lost two points,” he said.
“That’s football. We controlled the game for the majority of the time and had a lot of chances but couldn’t seem to get that goal.
“I’m very pleased with how we played. The result doesn’t reflect that. When the game is so disrupted, a lot of time-wasting, that was part of the plan and we had to deal with that.
“We did and kept creating chances but it didn’t come off. We have to take the positives.
“We had to go for it after that and go for as many players high up the pitch as possible.
“We definitely did that and had some great chances to win the game at the end. At the other end, it gets overshadowed how we defended.”
City kept pushing for the winner right until the last touch of the game, as Rodrigo‘s header from six yards went agonisingly wide of Jordan Pickford’s post.
The England centre-back believes that the team’s desire and character to keep going until the end should not be overlooked.
“It’s difficult to take after the game. We showed great character to keep fighting and pushing. It was a bit of a scrappy game.
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“We conceded two shots all game but it’s overlooked because of that incredible goal.
“On reflection we’ll be more positive when we look back I’m sure.”