Birmingham City 0-0 Hull City
Last updated on .From the section Football
Birmingham City kept up their unbeaten home record to stay in the play-off hunt after a goalless draw with fellow Championship promotion chasers Hull.
The Tigers came close to taking the lead when a Jack Hobbs header was cleared off the line by Jordon Mutch.
Blues rallied after half-time, Curtis Davies twice heading over the bar, while Wade Elliott narrowly failed to connect with Stephen Carr's cross.
Chris Hughton's men pushed hard for a winner but Hull took a deserved point.
The point extends Blues' unbeaten run to 13 matches, although they drop from third in the table to fifth.
Hull, now five Championship games without defeat, also drop a place to seventh but both sides boast a game in hand on their rivals.
Nick Barmby's men started firmly in the ascendancy, Hobbs almost putting them ahead when he nodded towards goal, only for Mutch to intervene.
Keith Fahey tested Vito Mannone as Blues threatened for the first time, the home side becoming more competitive as the half wore on.
Blues started the second period full of urgency, Davies going close from two corners before Carr looked to provide for Elliott.
The home side went into the closing stages comforted by the fact that more than a third of this season's 47 league goals had come in the final 10 minutes.
Davies almost teed up Marlon King for a late winner but it was not to be as Hull held firm.
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Birmingham City boss Chris Hughton:
"It was very frustrating. In the end sometimes you have to hold up your hands.
"It was not one of our better performances. What we were able to do was to get a better performance than in the first period to give us a chance of winning.
"I thought Hull have a bit of pace up front. They are good on the counter-attack and a young side which defends very well.
"Over the 90 minutes we didn't play well enough to test their goalkeeper and give ourselves of winning."
Hull City boss Nick Barmby:
"I was very pleased with a point. In the first half I thought we were the better team but the pass was lacking in the final third. Birmingham came at us in the second half. This was fully expected, they are going well and are a very good side.
"To come to Birmingham and get a point is very good from our point of view. Maybe we were good for a goal in the first half but we know that Birmingham have scored a lot of late goals this season.
"But once again the attitude, commitment and desire of the lads to keep the ball out of our net was again spot on."
