Premier League
LeicesterLeicester City0HullHull City0

Leicester City 0-0 Hull City

By Saj ChowdhuryBBC Sport
Hull striker Nikica Jelavic
Hull striker Nikica Jelavic failed to add to his tally of eight goals this season
  • Leicester fail to make extra man count
  • Hull's Huddlestone sent off in 72nd minute
  • Foxes now seven games without a win
  • Hull in 15th position after draw

Bottom side Leicester City's predicament worsened as they were held to a goalless draw by 10-man Hull.

The Foxes - seven points off safety - barely troubled Hull, who were reduced to 10 men in the 72nd minute when Tom Huddlestone was shown a second yellow.

The best chances fell to Hull striker Nikica Jelavic, who headed over from six yards and scuffed a shot from a similar distance.

Abel Hernandez also had a fierce shot saved by Foxes keeper Mark Schwarzer.

Sad if players can't tackle anymore - Bruce

That chance came in the closing minutes when the Tigers were down to 10 men after Huddlestone was dismissed by referee Jon Moss for a foul on Jamie Vardy.

It did not change the complexion of the match as Hull continued to look comfortable at the back thanks to the leadership and organisation of centre-back Michael Dawson.

His backline and the rest of the team look far more assured than they did back in December when they were in 19th place - two wins and only one defeat in their last six games suggest they have turned a corner.

They had only conceded four goals in the previous five, and against a Foxes side who had managed a mere four goals in their last six league outings, the likelihood was that Hull would improve upon that stat.

The only time they looked like conceding was when Leicester striker Andrej Kramaric failed by a fraction to get his boot on the end of a Riyad Mahrez cross in the first half.

Leicester were 'safe and laboured'

They also created chances of their own, with top scorer Jelavic twice going close.

Hull's top scorer this season should have done better with his first opportunity, when he failed to get a good connection on a lay-off from Ahmed Elmohamady, and after the break when he headed over from close range.

The Croat did manage to put the ball in the net but Foxes keeper Schwarzer was judged to have been fouled by striker Dame N'Doye in the lead-up. Substitute Abel Hernandez also forced a good low save from Schwarzer with just a few minutes remaining.

Leicester manager Nigel Pearson said this was a must-win game for his side. That chance has now gone - they cannot afford many more slip-ups.

Hull manager Steve Bruce:

"I've got no problem with Huddlestone's two yellow cards, but is every challenge now a yellow if you mis-time it?

"It got a bit angry towards the end, but for me the referee booked my two centre-backs for (fair) challenges.

"There's a raging debate about Chelsea in midweek and if we're not careful...I saw everyone surround Alex for a red card for his challenge.

"There wasn't a nasty challenge in the game yet we've had five yellow cards and a sending off. I never saw that coming."

Leicester manager Nigel Pearson:

"We've got 10 games left, six at home and we probably need to win five. Today's game shows how tough it can be.

"We are in the same sort of position as before. We have six games at home so our home form has to be drastically improved to give us the best chance.

"Today I think the players expected to get three points, so it is disappointing to come away with one.

"To get the three we needed to be more committed to our attacking play."

Hull manager Steve Bruce (right)
Hull manager Steve Bruce (right) was taking charge of his first game since signing a new deal last week
Leicester manager Nigel Pearson (far left)
Manager Nigel Pearson's (far left) future is far less certain - the spectator on the bottom right here seemed to have switched off during the match
Hull striker Nikica Jelavic
Hull striker Nikica Jelavic wasted two glorious chances for the visitors
Hull midfielder Tom Huddlestone
But neither he nor Tom Huddlestone, who was red-carded, were made to regret their actions as Hull recorded a valuable draw

Line-ups

Leicester

Formation 5-4-1

  • 32Schwarzer
  • 2de LaetSubstituted forLawrenceat 76'minutes
  • 5MorganSubstituted forNugentat 84'minutes
  • 14Huth
  • 6Upson
  • 15Schlupp
  • 26Mahrez
  • 19Cambiasso
  • 8James
  • 9Vardy
  • 40KramaricSubstituted forUlloaat 61'minutes

Substitutes

  • 1Schmeichel
  • 4Drinkwater
  • 10King
  • 16Lawrence
  • 23Ulloa
  • 27Wasilewski
  • 35Nugent

Hull

Formation 3-5-2

  • 1McGregor
  • 21DawsonBooked at 66mins
  • 4BruceBooked at 68mins
  • 15McShane
  • 27El Mohamady
  • 14Livermore
  • 8HuddlestoneBooked at 72mins
  • 25RamírezSubstituted forHernándezat 85'minutes
  • 26RobertsonBooked at 45minsSubstituted forMeylerat 79'minutes
  • 28N'DoyeBooked at 85mins
  • 18JelavicSubstituted forQuinnat 78'minutes

Substitutes

  • 3Figueroa
  • 6Davies
  • 7Meyler
  • 9Hernández
  • 22Harper
  • 24Aluko
  • 29Quinn
Referee:
Jonathan Moss
Attendance:
31,456

Match Stats

Home TeamLeicesterAway TeamHull
Possession
Home51%
Away49%
Shots
Home15
Away12
Shots on Target
Home3
Away5
Corners
Home7
Away5
Fouls
Home10
Away15

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Leicester City 0, Hull City 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Leicester City 0, Hull City 0.

  3. Post update

    Attempt saved. Matt Upson (Leicester City) with an attempt from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Riyad Mahrez with a cross.

  4. Post update

    Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Paul McShane.

  5. Post update

    Hand ball by Ahmed Elmohamady (Hull City).

  6. Post update

    Foul by Leonardo Ulloa (Leicester City).

  7. Post update

    David Meyler (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  8. Post update

    Attempt saved. Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

  9. Post update

    Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  10. Post update

    Foul by David Meyler (Hull City).

  11. Post update

    Attempt saved. Abel Hernández (Hull City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Dame N'Doye with a through ball.

  12. Post update

    Foul by Matt Upson (Leicester City).

  13. Post update

    Dame N'Doye (Hull City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  14. Post update

    Attempt missed. David Nugent (Leicester City) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Jamie Vardy with a cross following a fast break.

  15. Post update

    Foul by David Nugent (Leicester City).

  16. Post update

    Paul McShane (Hull City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  17. Booking

    Dame N'Doye (Hull City) is shown the yellow card.

  18. Post update

    Matt Upson (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  19. Post update

    Foul by Dame N'Doye (Hull City).

  20. Substitution

    Substitution, Hull City. Abel Hernández replaces Gastón Ramírez.

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Chelsea27196257223563
2Man City29177559283158
3Arsenal29176656302657
4Man Utd28158547262153
5Liverpool28156742301251
6Tottenham2815584639750
7Southampton28154939201949
8Stoke29126113335-242
9Swansea28117103337-440
10West Ham29109103937239
11Newcastle2898113243-1135
12Crystal Palace2989123440-633
13West Brom2989122736-933
14Everton28610123341-828
15Hull29610132637-1128
16Aston Villa2977151938-1928
17Sunderland29414112343-2026
18Burnley29510142647-2125
19QPR2964193052-2222
20Leicester2847172444-2019
View full Premier League table

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