Mark Hughes and Steve Bruce shared the points in the 13th meeting between the former Manchester United team mates as Stoke held Hull to a goalless draw at the KC Stadium.
Hughes made two changes to the side that historically beat Chelsea 3-2 last weekend, Ossama Assaidi came in for the suspended Jon Walters and Stephen Ireland was in for Charlie Adam. Whilst former Stoke City captain Abdoulaye Faye only had a place on Bruce’s bench.
The first real shot on target came from the hosts after Stoke failed to clear from the corner and Ahmed Elmohamady unleashed a fierce shot which was palmed over the bar by Asmir Begovic.
Assaidi had been brought back into the team today after his late winning goal last weekend and he nearly set up another goal when his corner fell for Geoff Cameron who knocked the ball into the path of Ryan Shawcross but the defender could only stick out a leg and watch the ball roll wide.
Danny Graham was Hull City’s danger man for most of the first half after his goal on Monday Night against Swansea, the striker looked to have found his scoring boots but never really troubled Begovic.
Elmohamady could have broken the deadlock early in the second half when he found space in the area but a fantastic point blank save from the Stoke keeper denied the Egyptian.
Ireland thought he had secured the points for Stoke in the 70th minute when he tapped in from Peter Crouch’s header but the linesman raised the flag and denied the midfielder his second goal in as many games.
Shawcross headed off the bar a few minutes later from Assaidi’s corner as Stoke began to press for the three points in the closing stages.
But the game ended goalless and the points were shared as both teams remain in 12th and 13th respectively.