Hull City were held by Leicester as Tom Huddlestone was sent off for the visitors in a goalless game at the King Power.

The Tigers were frustrated by a resilient Foxes, and Leicester’s chances of staying in the Premier League are looking slimmer by the game, and with matches running out, things look ominous for Nigel Pearson’s men. Steve Bruce’s Hull however are now six points clear of the relegation zone following a hard earned point.

The visitors had the biggest goal threat, with Nikica Jelavic spurning a great chance to give Hull the lead, while Abel Hernandez also almost broke the deadlock for Hull. However the key moment of the game was the sending off of Hull midfielder Huddlestone. The former England international was shown a second yellow card for fouling Jamie Vardy, with no complaints from the Hull contingent.

Steve Bruce had Michael Dawson to thank as he and his fellow defenders stood strong to resist the Leicester challenge. The Foxes were trying to create some chances but Dawson and co continued to cut out any meaningful attacks. Nigel Pearson would have seen this as a winnable fixture for Leicester, who are now seven points adrift of safety.

The first real chance fell to Jelavic, as Huddlestone picked out winger Ahmed Elmohamady with a perfectly weighted cross, but he passed to Jelavic, with the Croatian not being able to connect and the shot went begging with an open goal beckoning. He did have the ball in the net, but the goal was ruled out as Dame N’Doye fouled veteran ‘keeper Mark Schwarzer in the build-up.

Andrej Kramaric shot wide from distance with an audacious shot, before choosing not to connect with a Riyad Mahrez cross, which certainly could have troubled Allan McGregor, who as of then hadn’t been tested. This soon changed however as in the start of the second half, McGregor was forced to tip over a Vardy cross, which looked destined for the net.

Soon after Huddlestone collected his marching orders for his foul on Vardy, with Jonathan Moss brandishing the second yellow card. This isn’t his first sending off this season, as he picked up a straight red in a defeat to Chelsea earlier in the season. This means he’ll miss the game against, ironically, Chelsea.

Abel Hernandez, the second half substitute, had a golden chance to snatch a late goal for Hull. The Uruguayan was fed the ball by N’Doye’s cleverly taken free kick, but his shot wasn’t as powerful as it could have been, and Schwarzer pulled off a top save to his right.

With Leicester looking likely to go down, Pearson and his men need something of a miracle if they are to survive. Hull however look good for a third season in the top flight, as Steve Bruce and Mike Phelan look to have masterminded a survival mission.

Leicester (0) Hull City (0)
       
Schwarzer 7 McGregor 7
De Laet (2) 7 Dawson 8
Morgan (3) 7 Bruce 7
Huth 6 McShane 6
Upson 6 Emohamady 7
Schlupp 6 Livermore 6
Mahrez 6 Huddlestone 5
Cambiasso 7 Ramirez (3) 6
James 6 Robertson (2) 6
Vardy 8 N'Doye 6
Kramaric (1) 6 Jelavic (1) 5
Substitutions
 Ulloa (1) 5  Quinn (1) 6
 Lawrence (2) 6  Meyler (2) 6
 Nugent (3) 6  Hernandez (3) 5
VAVEL Logo
About the author
Aaron Irwin
Formula 1 editor, Football League co-editor at VAVEL UK. Writer since July 2014. Hull City correspondent. Currently studying for a Journalism degree at Hull School of Art and Design.