Stalemate at St Andrew's

Promotion rivals Birmingham and Hull shared the spoils in a goalless npower Championship stalemate at St Andrew's.

The writing was on the wall ahead of a clash between the second tier's two meanest defences, with Hull not having conceded in their previous four league matches while Blues had shipped just one goal in their last seven in all competitions.

Clear-cut chances were at a premium in an encounter in which defences were on top, with a point apiece suitable reward.

The first real opening came after 19 minutes and Birmingham were thankful to midfielder Jordon Mutch, who cleared Jack Hobbs' header off the line following a recycled corner. Keith Fahey's shot was easily saved by Vito Mannone at the other end as Blues threatened for the first time.

Curtis Davies twice headed over the crossbar amid a sequence of three quickfire corners and he came close to teeing up Marlon King for a late winner but it was not to be.

The point extends Birmingham's unbeaten run to 13 matches and maintains their undefeated league run on home soil, albeit dropping from third to fifth. Hull, now five Championship games without defeat, also drop one place to seventh amid a competitive promotion picture, with both sides boasting a game in hand on their rivals.