Stoke City 0-0 Cardiff City

Stoke and Cardiff remain just above the relegation zone after a controversial goalless draw.

A goal never really looked like coming in a game between two sides desperately out of form.

The key moment of the match came on the hour mark when Potters striker Peter Crouch was wrongly booked for Charlie Adam's push on Fraizer Campbell.

Replays showed that Adam, who had already been booked, shoved the Cardiff striker over but went unpunished.

Cardiff boss Malky Mackay was left seething and there was nearly a huge injustice with only minutes remaining when Adam bought the first real save out of Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall.

He hit a fierce free-kick which Marshall did well to parry clear but only as far as Stephen Ireland, who blazed over.

At the other end Cardiff teenager Declan John forced Asmir Begovic into an excellent save as he nearly won it for the visitors.

The game was anything but a classic but, with Stoke having one win in their last 10 Premier League matches and Cardiff one in seven, the stats set the scene.

Goals have also been at a premium for both with the home side managing 12 from their 13 matches and Cardiff one fewer.

It was the Potters who had the better of the chances in the first half.

Oussama Assaidi should have done better when played through by an excellent pass from Marko Arnautovic. But the Moroccan delayed taking a shot, Marshall stood up tall and the chance was gone.

Adam's tempting cross then almost found Crouch, but Ben Turner got a vital touch to prevent it reaching the former England striker.

Cardiff then sprung to life and had the best chance of the half, when Mutch was left unmarked from a Peter Whittingham corner and Begovic did well to punch his header clear.

As both sides continued to press, tempers began to fray and Stoke's Marc Wilson was a lucky man when referee Michael Oliver waved away Cardiff's call for a penalty. The defender certainly tangled with Campbell in the box.

And Adam was even luckier after his case of mistaken identity as both sides saw out the stalemate.

Stoke manager Mark Hughes: "We did well up to a point - at the top end which is a problem for us. But in terms of controlling the game we did well. We were the only team likely to win the game.

"We're disappointed not to win the game. I thought our performance merited that. I don't recall too many chances for them but I thought we stuck at it.

"We have got to keep our home form nice and solid. We have been decent enough but we need to take maximum points."

Cardiff City boss Malky Mackay: "I thought it was a good point and we were well worthy of it. It was always going to be tough but we had a couple of good chances.

"I thought we had good control of the game in the first half. You have got to control the delivery to Crouch and I think we did that as the game went on.

"I was told it was Charlie Adam who pushed Fraizer over so he is lucky to have stayed on the pitch tonight.

"I am not sure whether the ref has seen it to be honest because if he had then it would have been a booking for him and he would have been off."

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