Hull City and Blackburn cancelled each other out to earn a point each in their battle for survival.
Fagan spurns best opportunity in stalemate at Hull
Hull City and Blackburn cancelled each other out at the KC Stadium to earn a point each in their battle for Premier League survival.
The best chance of the game fell in the 11th minute when George Boateng hit a superb pass from the right to play Craig Fagan clean through on goal but his effort was well saved by Paul Robinson to his left.
In the second period, Blackburn substitute Nikola Kalinic had three chances but shot wide with two while Boaz Myhill saved his other from close range.
Fellow substitute Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink headed wide at the other end as Rovers made it three 0-0 draws in a row in the league.
The result kept Rovers above Hull in the lower reaches of the table and both sides may see it as a wasted opportunity.
The match was billed as a battle between Rovers manager Sam Allardyce and his former assistant Phil Brown.
Brown was visible throughout on the touchline but Allardyce, recovering from a recent heart operation, remained in the stands until the closing moments.
The Hull boss, boosted by the presence of defenders Anthony Gardner and Andy Dawson after fitness tests, appeared to opt for caution with no out-and-out striker in his side.
Forward Fagan started as the lone striker but Brazilian playmaker Geovanni was recalled in support in the absence of injured talisman Jimmy Bullard.
Blackburn, again without the influential David Dunn, settled quickly and Junior Hoilett won a free-kick in dangerous territory after cutting in from the left but Benni McCarthy shot over.
Defender Chris Samba then fired over and a Hoilett cross was volleyed in by McCarthy only for the South African to be denied by an offside flag.
Glorious opportunity
Hull spurned a glorious opportunity in the 11th minute after Franco di Santo was robbed in midfield by Boateng.
The Dutchman played in Fagan with a perfect throughball but the forward, one-on-one with Robinson, shot too close to the goalkeeper who saved with his left hand.
Hull were annoyed when referee Chris Foy played on after Paul McShane was injured in a collision with Kamil Zayatte in the Tigers area but Vince Grella missed the target.
Geovanni, after a quiet opening, got the chance to run at the Blackburn defence just before the half-hour but his 30-yard shot did not trouble Robinson.
The former Barcelona man got another opportunity from a free-kick after Boateng was felled by Steven N'Zonzi but his initial effort hit the wall and Robinson saved his follow-up attempt.
Another chance opened up for Hull after Samba failed to clear a Geovanni ball.
Dean Marney took up the attack and found Stephen Hunt in space on the left but the Irishman shot tamely at Robinson.
McShane appealed for a penalty after going down in a challenge with Gael Givet but Foy was not interested.
Di Santo had the first shot of the second half but Myhill, recalled after missing the previous six games, was not troubled.
Boateng tried his luck with a long-range effort at the other end but Robinson saved comfortably low down.
Richard Garcia created a shooting opportunity as he dragged the ball back from a Gardner nod-down but, again, Robinson was not extended.
Route one
Blackburn went to route one to try to break the deadlock but substitute Kalinic shot into the side-netting after the ball bounced kindly in the area.
Kalinic caused further problems and outmuscled Gardner to get in another shot but his balance was upset and - with no foul given - shot weakly at Myhill.
The danger was not over but Hull somehow managed to scramble clear.
The ball fell to Kalinic again soon after when McShane headed an attempted clearance in his direction but this time the Croatian stabbed wide.
Hull were incredulous when they had a penalty appeal of their own turned down with 16 minutes remaining.
Substitute Jozy Altidore, introduced to give Hull a presence up front eight minutes earlier, appeared to have been tripped in a clumsy Samba challenge but Foy penalised the American for diving.
The decision was right as replays showed the American had tripped himself up.
Hull responded by introducing the fresh vigour of Seyi Olofinjana and Vennegoor of Hesselink of the bench.
Vennegoor of Hesselink had chances immediately but was punished for a foul before shooting at Robinson and then headed wide.
Kalinic continued to threaten the Hull defence but Gardner got the better of him with five minutes remaining and cleared.
Both sides continued to push for a winner in the closing moments but, as in the rest of the game, could not find a way through.
| Hull City |
Team Statistics |
Blackburn Rovers |
| 0 |
Goals |
0 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 7 |
Shots on Target |
5 |
| 3 |
Shots off Target |
7 |
| 1 |
Blocked Shots |
4 |
| 3 |
Corners |
4 |
| 14 |
Fouls |
20 |
| 1 |
Offsides |
3 |
| 1 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 66.4 |
Passing Success |
68 |
| 19 |
Tackles |
26 |
| 78.9 |
Tackles Success |
65.4 |
| 46.3 |
Possession |
53.7 |
| 49.6 |
Territorial Advantage |
50.4 |
|
