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Birmingham City vs Hull City. Premier League.

St Andrews StadiumAttendance26,669.

Stalemate at St Andrews

Image: Vennegoor goes in with Johnson

Hull's quest to avoid relegation was dealt a blow as they could only manage a 0-0 draw at Birmingham.

Blues and Tigers can't break deadlock to share points

Hull City's quest to avoid relegation from the Premier League was dealt a blow as they could only manage a 0-0 draw at Birmingham. The stalemate leaves the Tigers' position in the top-flight increasingly on a knife-edge and they rarely threatened the Blues goal at St Andrews. Neither side produced free-flowing football on a sunny afternoon in the second city but both goalkeepers came out on top - Matt Duke stopped a stinging Lee Bowyer drive on 39 minutes and the recalled Joe Hart produced an excellent save a minute later to keep out Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink from close range. After the break it was Birmingham who looked most like scoring but they could not create a clear-cut chance. Hull did not go hell-for-leather for the three points, however, Craig Fagan nearly snatched the win late on but his volley flew just wide. The Tigers remain in the bottom three but will be looking to capitalise on having three of their remaining four games at home if they are to survive the drop. Dowie clearly decided to try and make his side more difficult to break down in employing only one out-and-out striker and even his most creative midfielder, Jimmy Bullard, was restrained until the latter stages. Birmingham had made sure of their top-flight status a couple of months ago and there was a lack of intensity about their play as their sequence without a win was extended to seven matches.

Effect

Liam Ridgewell got forward to good effect down the left flank and Barry Ferguson was a calming influence in the centre of the park but clear-cut chances were at a premium for both sides, particularly in the second 45 minutes. Birmingham started in confident fashion and James McFadden cut in from the left and was only just too high with a powerful 20-yard drive. Scott Dann was proving to be a danger at set-pieces and sent a glancing header just wide from a Craig Gardner free-kick. Hull threatened for the first time after 16 minutes. George Boateng sent a low ball across the Blues six-yard box after exchanging passes with Bullard and it just eluded Kevin Kilbane at the far post. McFadden looked sharp and sent over a dangerous cross which Keith Fahey headed back across goal, but Lee Bowyer slipped over when well positioned. Bullard had one powerful shot blocked by Dann and Keith Fahey had a shot deflected wide before Blues squandered a golden chance after 34 minutes. Roger Johnson's cross picked out the unmarked Bowyer but, from six yards out, he sent his header over the bar when the midfielder should have at least hit the target. Bowyer caused problems to the visitors with his trademark runs and Duke did well to parry away his fierce drive. Blues enjoyed the bulk of possession but on-loan keeper Joe Hart again proved his worth five minutes before half-time. Andy Dawson's overlapping run ended with a cross to the near post and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's header was destined for the far corner of the net until Hart intervened with a fine reflex save. Barry Ferguson created an opportunity for Jerome early in the second period with a fine through-ball. The 10-goal striker cut back inside but his eventual shot was easily dealt with by Duke at his near post when McFadden was in space across the other side of the box.
Volley
At the other end, Boateng volleyed high and wide when under pressure from McFadden after a Bullard corner was only half-cleared. McLeish decided a change was required and after an hour he brought on veteran striker Kevin Phillips in place of McFadden. The former Scotland boss quickly followed up that substitution by taking off Fahey and bringing on Sebastian Larsson. Blues had strong claims for a penalty rejected when McShane appeared to shove Jerome as he challenged Duke for a high ball from Gardner's centre. Dowie made his first change after 76 minutes with Vennegoor of Hesselink making way for Jozy Altidore. Jerome had a shot deflected wide after Hull failed to deal with a hopeful ball forward from Larsson. There was rare moment of danger for Birmingham when Bullard broke into the box but his eventual shot lacked power and Hart saved comfortably, before Fagan sent a thumping volley wide in stoppage time.
Birmingham City Team Statistics Hull City
0 Goals 0
0 1st Half Goals 0
2 Shots on Target 3
5 Shots off Target 8
6 Blocked Shots 1
8 Corners 1
12 Fouls 13
0 Offsides 3
0 Yellow Cards 0
0 Red Cards 0
67.6 Passing Success 74.9
23 Tackles 16
78.3 Tackles Success 75
48.5 Possession 51.5
49 Territorial Advantage 51

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