Swansea City 0-0 Hull City: Tigers dig in to leave Swans frustrated

Hull captain Lewie Coyle challenges Jake Bidwell

Swansea City were held to a goalless draw by Hull City which leaves Russell Martin still waiting for a first home league win at his new club.

Swansea dominated the contest for long periods but struggled to open up a resolute Hull rearguard.

Matt Grimes came closest to a goal with a sweet free-kick which was pushed onto the post by Matt Ingram.

The stalemate leaves both sides with only one victory from their opening six games of the Championship season.

There were some promising signs in this Swansea performance for Martin, the former MK Dons boss who took charge just six days before 2021-22 campaign began.

But a return of one point from his first three league games at the Swansea.com Stadium leaves room for improvement.

Hull were happier with a draw having spent the vast majority of their afternoon in Wales defending, although their run without a league goal has stretched to five matches.

They drop to 20th, one place above Swansea on goal difference.

The pattern of the contest was set early on, with Hull dropping deep and backing themselves to defend their penalty area

The approach worked, although Grant McCann's men had to work hard throughout a game in which Swansea controlled the ball for long spells.

Wing-back Jake Bidwell saw the day's first blocked before debutant Olivier Ntcham's rebound deflected wide of the post.

Joel Piroe and Kyle Naughton both drew sharp saves from Matt Ingram, before captain Grimes's dipping free-kick was parried onto the upright by the diving Hull goalkeeper.

Swansea captain Matt Grimes challenges Hull's Tom Huddlestone

The Tigers' first effort of the day came early in the second period, when fit-again Mallik Wilkes cut in from the right but fired well over from 20 yards.

Swansea were soon asking questions again, this time of referee Keith Stroud as first Ethan Laird and then Jamie Paterson tumbled in the area but saw penalty appeals ignored.

The home side who continued to control the ball - but still they could not find a way to carve Hull open.

The closest Swansea came was another effort from distance, as Piroe took aim only for Ingram to produce another decent save.

Opposite number Ben Hamer, starting his first league game for Swansea, was finally called into action in stoppage time as he pushed Ryan Longman's long-range drive to safety.

Swansea head coach Russell Martin:

"I thought the performance was excellent. We've limited a team to one shot on target in the whole game. We had complete dominance and complete control off the back of intensity.

"Let's get it right. They came to press really high if you watch the first 20 minutes. They realised pretty quickly that the guys were playing with a real intensity, real courage and real conviction so it soon turned into us dominating the game. The guys earned that.

"The only frustration is we didn't score. The next bit is going to come. I am disappointed for the players and frustrated we didn't win, but I think that's a real step in the right direction.

"Today shows me and a few the other performances show me, along with the way we have trained, shows me we are not going to finish in the [league] position we are in now."

Hull head coach Grant McCann:

"I thought we defended well. We limited them to shots from long range where Matty [Ingram] was excellent. For us we feel as if that is a good point away from home.

"We knew they have a way of playing. It's a style Russell [Martin] has brought to Swansea. You have got to be patient, you have got to be calm in your shape and you have got to be clinical at the other end.

"We are going to get there. Once the boys at the top end of the pitch get more games, they are going to get more sharpness and we are going to get more clinical.

"People will want to hit us when we are down, you know, when you haven't won for a bit. We are used to it, people knocking us and having pops at us. We will respond and hopefully you'll see that at the end of the season."