Hull City and Stoke City played out a 0-0 draw as neither side was able to take advantage of dominant spells and decent chances in the game.
Hull City vs. Stoke City: Final score 0-0, Tigers and Potters share points in an even game
Hull City were dominant for most of the match against Stoke City, but although the visitors grew into the game towards the end, both sides had to settle for a 0-0 draw.
Yannick Sagbo and Danny Graham had decent chances for the hosts, while Stephen Ireland saw a goal ruled out for a marginal offside call, and although it wasn’t a particularly dull game, neither side had the quality to steal all three points.
Hull have been solid at home under Steve Bruce, and that showed no sign of changing as they immediately got off on the front foot, albeit taking their time to create chances. Danny Graham came fairly close with a long-range effort, but Stoke were proving just as hard to break down.
Just afterwards, a moment of magic almost had the hosts ahead, as a half-cleared ball fell to Ahmed Elmohammady, and the Egyptian volleyed the ball brilliantly over the crowd of players, but Asmir Begovic was alert to tip it over the bar.
Hull continued to press for an opener, and had two good chances later on - Danny Graham got down the left channel but lacked the pace to get beyond the visitors' defence, and dawdled on the ball too long allowing Ryan Shawcross to get a block in. Yannick Sagbo was then given a ridiculous amount of space on the opposite channel to shoot, but could only find the side-netting.
Stoke were simply not threatening at all, and almost conceded from a set-piece as Tom Huddlestone's deep free-kick found Curtis Davies, but the defender could only glance his header wide. Sagbo then had another opportunity after being found by Graham with a nice flicked header, but his turning shot was over the bar.
Stoke managed to restrict Hull more in the second half, but were still distinctly second-best - they ought to have been behind when Elmohammady got to the back post to get on the end of Maynor Figueroa’s cross, but his header lacked power and Begovic was able to leap across the goalmouth to make the save.
Marko Arnautovic had a rare chance for the visitors after he broke with Oussama Assaidi, but the Austrian elected to go it alone rather than, more sensibly, square for his partner and saw his shot blocked as a result, wasting a big chance for Stoke.
Hull were still on top, but almost suffered a sucker-punch from Stoke as Peter Crouch's header was kept out by Allan McGregor, only for Stephen Ireland to tap into the empty net from close range. But the goal was ruled out through the linesmans flag, which replays showed to be very tight indeed.
Stoke were beginning to come into the game more and more, however, and Ryan Shawcross struck the bar with a looping header not long after, but in the end Mark Hughes’ men were unable to press their late advantage and both sides had to settle for a point.
Hull City: McGregor, Chester, Bruce (Brady 67’), Davies, Figueroa, Elmohamady, Meyler (Rosenior 78’), Huddlestone, Livermore, Sagbo, Graham (Boyd 82’).
Stoke City: Begovic, Cameron, Shawcross, Wilson, Muniesa (Pieters 66’), Arnautovic (Adam 90’), Nzonzi, Whelan (Palacios 78’), Ireland, Assaidi Crouch.
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