Stoke City 0-0 Hull City: Tigers' play-off push suffers blow in stalemate
- Published
- comments
Hull City have now won four and drawn five of their past 10 Championship games after their goalless draw at Stoke
Hull City's Championship play-off challenge suffered a bump as they were held to a goalless draw at Stoke.
The Potteries are not a happy hunting ground for the Tigers and their winless streak that stretches back to 2006 in the league was extended.
They squandered a glorious chance when Regan Slater found Aaron Connolly seven yards out but he skied his left-foot shot over the bar.
Hull were hoping to make it three wins in a row but a point sees them climb to 11th but slip to five points behind the top six.
Stoke have now won only one game from their past seven in the league and stay five points above the relegation zone.
Alex Neil's side host Huddersfield on Wednesday before a trip to Blackpool next weekend in their bid to pull clear of the bottom three.
It was a game without many clear-cut chances but either side could have pinched a goal.
Ozan Tufan found Connolly for Hull who took a lofted pass down really well but bent his effort just wide.
Tufan went for the near post from a free-kick but his effort was well beaten away by Stoke goalkeeper Matija Sarkic, who also saved Oscar Estupinan's 25-yard drive.
Stoke also had moments that could have nicked all three points, the best of them a well-worked free-kick that freed Tyrese Campbell to shoot but Matt Ingram was equal to it in the Hull goal.
Stoke manager Alex Neil told BBC Radio Stoke:
"I thought we started really brightly and were aggressive and went after them.
"But when we needed to make that final pass we got a bit messy.
"The second half was very even but with the pressure we had we didn't fashion any clear-cut chances, which is disappointing."
Hull head coach Liam Rosenior told BBC Radio Humberside:
"I thought it was a really hard-fought game. Stoke gave us a lot of a respect and they tried to make it a scrap and a fight.
"They tried to take us out of our normal rhythm but we had the better chances and on another day, we win the game.
"You're seeing a team who are very difficult to beat, three clean sheets in a row, and I couldn't be happier with the mentality and spirit."