Neither side could find a breakthrough as Hull City and Nottingham Forest played out a 0-0 draw.
Lack of creativity on show at the KC in goalless stalemate
It was very much a game of two halves at the KC Stadium but neither side could find a breakthrough as Hull drew 0-0 with Nottingham Forest.
The Tigers had much of the play during the first period, in which they went close through a John Bostock volley, but were largely restricted to long range efforts.
Jimmy Bullard looked as though he might be able to produce the breakthrough from distance, forcing Forest keeper Lee Camp into a number of saves.
The second half belonged largely to Forest, however, and they had the ball in the net through Robert Earnshaw, only for the offside flag to be raised in the tightest of decisions.
The visitors' best chance otherwise fell to Luke Chambers, who put a free header from a Lewis McGugan corner past the post from close range.
Daniel Ayala was instrumental at the back as Hull were under pressure for much of the second period, but they arguably finished the stronger in the final ten minutes after the introduction of Nick Barmby.
Chances were few and far between, though, and both sides, who desperately needed a win to kick-start their promotion aspirations, were forced to settle for a point.
Squads
Hull boss Nigel Pearson made no changes to the XI that beat Derby 2-0 in midweek, while Barmby's inclusion among the substitutes at the expense of fellow veteran Nolberto Solano was the only alteration to the matchday squad.
Earnshaw, Luke Chambers and Paul Anderson came into the Forest starting line-up, with Kelvin Wilson absent through a calf injury and Dexter Blackstock and Nathan Tyson dropping to the bench.
Bullard almost gave Hull a dream start in the fourth minute when his dipping 30-yard effort was tipped over by a backpedalling Camp.
But the former Wigan and Fulham man also presented Forest with their best opportunity of the opening exchanges. The recently recalled midfielder fouled Earnshaw and from the resulting free-kick McGugan curled an effort narrowly past the near post.
Hull had the majority of the play during a first half sadly lacking in quality, but all they had to show for their endeavours were a succession of wild, tame and occasionally ridiculous shots from distance.
A 40-yard strike from Bullard reached Camp via a succession of bounces, drawing large guffaws from the Forest contingent.
Slashed attempts from McGugan and Anderson saw Forest faring little better as both penalty areas became virtually redundant before half-time.
Second half
Three minutes after the break Billy Davies' side showed signs of greater intent when Earnshaw bundled his way into the Hull box only for Paul McShane to block his shot.
McGugan then dragged horribly wide, but the young playmaker was beginning to look dangerous, finding space in front of the Tigers defence to engineer a succession of attacks.
In the 61st minute, a dangerous cross from Forest's Chris Gunter was headed behind by Robert Koren with Earnshaw lurking.
From the corner the visitors had the clearest chance of the game, when McGugan's teasing delivery found Chambers unmarked four yards from goal but the centre-back headed wide.
On-loan Liverpool defender Ayala excelled for Hull as Forest's sustained period of pressure continued.
But Paul McKenna escaped his attentions to meet Guy Moussi's cross in the 69th minute, glancing a header wide.
Earnshaw thought he had given Forest the lead moments later when he latched onto McKenna's pass and lifted the ball over Duke, only to be judged offside.
Hull enjoyed a late spell of pressure but were also unable to make the breakthrough which a lacklustre encounter never truly merited.
