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Fulham extended their unbeaten Premier League run to six matches but could not break down a stubborn Stoke City side in a goalless draw at the Britannia Stadium.

It was a clash of styles between Roy Hodgson's elegant passing side and Tony Pulis's mathematical, direct bruisers.

But what really stood out was how Fulham - who have not won in four matches and have only scored once in the process - struggled to create and take chances while Stoke's directness drew them closer to breaking the deadlock.

The visitors played their patient, passing game with midfielders Jimmy Bullard and Zoltan Gera particularly involved in some attractive build-up play.

But their main highlights of the first 45 minutes were two penalty appeals rebuffed by referee Stuart Attwell.

The first, on 17 minutes, was correctly waved away after Andy Johnson took a dive on the edge of the box.

The second, midway through the half, was obvious as Danny Higginbotham clearly handled while intercepting a cross into the Stoke box.

But Attwell and his assistants missed it, and the Potters - who were under the cosh at that point - grew into the match.

The hosts still had less of the ball but they used it efficiently, peppering Mark Schwarzer's goal with crosses and high balls and threatening with long throws which surprisingly did not come from the normally trusty hands of Rory Delap.

The Ireland midfielder was named in the starting line-up despite an arm injury and, after one attempted centre barely went five yards, touchline duties were transferred to Ibrahima Sonko.

The defender's deliveries were less flat than Delap's regular bullets but they had height and length and almost caught Schwarzer stranded on two occasions.

Their best chance of the half fell to Richard Cresswell, who came on early in the first half for injury-victim Mamady Sidibe.

With five minutes plus stoppage time left in the first half, Cresswell played a one-two with Ricardo Fuller but could only fire wide from 10 yards.

The score remained goalless into the break and the pattern continued in the second half, with Fulham neat but cautious and Stoke sitting deep and using their impressive aerial threat and trusty long balls.

Fulham did create a few very good chances, with Clint Dempsey's shot deflected inches over by Sonko while Bullard sent low drive just wide.

Stoke were dangerous on the break and Cresswell had another clear opportunity but again fired wide when found on the edge of the six-yard box by substitute Vincent Pericard.

The final 10 minutes were the most open of the game, a both sides sensed the potential for a win and traded attacks in tandem.

For Fulham, Johnson went through but his shot was blocked, Bullard saw a cheeky lob dip too late and land on the roof of the net and Dempsey fired inches wide from the edge of the area.

For Stoke, Fuller felt he should have won a penalty under a challenge from Danny Murphy, but Attwell correctly disagreed, while Pericard could not connect with Fuller's injury-time centre for what would have been a quite dramatic late winner.

But neither side could break the deadlock and Stoke stay in lower-mid table while Fulham remain in the top half of the standings.

Reda Maher / Eurosport