Hull City 0 Coventry City 0: Stalemate in tale of two cities

Only Queens Park Rangers with eight boast more shut-outs than the Tigers, who are yet to concede a goal in five outings on home soil this season.

What such a miserly record should mean is that Hull, while not breathing down the necks of Neil Warnock's runaway leaders, should at least be within touching distance of the impressive Londoners.

Instead, as QPR maintained their six-point lead at the top of the Championship with a dramatic late victory at Crystal Palace, the Tigers had to be content with moving up a place to 16th.

After a difficult summer financially for the club, a place in lower mid-table is, of course, perfectly satisfactory.

But, still, it does seem scant reward for such an impressive tally of clean sheets.

The reason Hull are not sitting prettier going into the second international break of the campaign is, quite simply, a lack of goals with their tally of seven being bettered by every other side in the second tier bar Sheffield United.

Against Coventry, it was clear why Hull are having so much trouble in finding the net with the lack of a cutting edge apparent throughout despite dominating possession.

Manager Nigel Pearson, who deserves credit for sorting out a defence that shipped 75 goals in being relegated from the Premier League last term, is acutely aware of the problem.

It is why, on the eve of the Sky Blues' visit, he signed Rowan Vine on loan for a month from QPR.

The 28-year-old, told by Loftus Road chief Warnock during the summer to find a new club, made a solid start to life in a Tigers shirt with a hard-working display alongside Jay Simpson.

Neither was able to truly test Coventry goalkeeper Keiren Westwood, whose most worrying moment came in the first half when Jimmy Bullard's shot crashed against a post.

But Vine, who played more than 20 games alongside Simpson for QPR last season, insists there were enough encouraging signs to suggest the partnership will click in the coming weeks.

He said: "I am not worried about us not scoring goals. If we play like we did against Coventry but with more of a cutting edge then we will get the chances.

"Then, once one or two go in, the goals will really start to flow. There are some great players here, particularly in the midfield. So, I don't think it is a lack of service.

"We played most of the game in the Coventry half but maybe the final ball or the decision making wasn't as it should have been."

Simpson, who was QPR's top scorer with 13 goals last season, is yet to find the net in nine appearances since moving north from Arsenal in August.

Vine added: "Jay will get goals. He got them last year. We played together a few times at QPR so I know how he plays the game.

"Confidence can be a problem when you're not scoring goals. Strikers put the most amount of pressure on themselves, whether it is Jay or whoever up front.

"He just needs a bit of a rub of the green.

"Against Coventry, he tried hard and if he keeps doing that then the goals will definitely come for him.

"That was what happened last year and I am a big believer that it will happen again."

In truth, this was a drab game in which both sides provided plenty of endeavour but neither could really claim with any justification to have deserved all three points.

Hull had two genuine chances, the first of which came on 19 minutes after Vine had been released by a pinpoint pass from Bullard.

The on-loan striker then looked up before drilling a low cross that goalkeeper Westwood could only beat out towards the edge of the area.

Eventually, the ball was worked to Bullard and the club's record signing thundered a shot that struck a post before bouncing to safety.

Hull's other clearcut opening came 20 minutes from time when Nick Barmby, displaying the sort of intelligence that had been missing from both sets of players for most of the afternoon, darted in behind the Sky Blues' defence to collect a pass before drilling a shot just wide.

Those two chances apart, however, Westwood was rarely troubled with Hull's other efforts bringing only routine saves or catches.

It was a similar story at the other end with Hull goalkeeper Matt Duke rarely called into action, his most worrying moment coming just before the hour when Danny Ward headed lamely at the Hull goalkeeper after being picked out unmarked at the back post by Richard Keogh.

Manager Pearson said: "To keep six clean sheets is pretty good.

"Five of them have come at home, yet we have only won two games.

"That speaks volumes of where we are at this moment in time. We need to be able to go out there and win the tighter games."

MATCH FOCUS

Hero: Daniel Ayala

Never put a foot wrong all afternoon to underline just why his partnership with Anthony Gerrard has helped transform the Tigers, the odd blip at Burnley apart, into such a rock-solid defence.

Villain: Marlon King

The one-time Hull striker was not even at the KC Stadium due to injury. But the home fans made their feelings known about the offences that recently landed King, now with Coventry, in jail.

Key moment

70th minute: For the first time all afternoon, Hull got in behind the visitors' defence when Nick Barmby's intelligent run was picked out but the former England international could only shoot wide of the target.

Ref watch

Steve Rushton: Both managers could feel aggrieved at the final whistle over penalty appeals that were turned down, though the official did use his yellow card sensibly to calm tempers down.

Verdict

A poor spectacle but, for the Tigers, plenty to build on as their defence again came through a home game without being breached. If Hull are to make a mark this season, however, they will need more urgency on the ball.

Quote of the day

All I would say is that the irony of the situation doesn't escape me.

– Nigel Pearson's cryptic reaction to former club Leicester City sacking his successor, Paulo Sousa, and appointing Sven Goran Eriksson.

Next game

Leicester City v Hull City; Saturday October 16, 2010; Championship.