Home advantage no good to Leeds

Leeds 0 Hull 0

Leeds failed to make home advantage pay as relegation rivals Hull ground out a potentially priceless Coca-Cola Championship point at Elland Road.

There were precious few genuine goalscoring opportunities in a feisty Yorkshire derby which leaves both clubs deep in relegation trouble.

The result suits Hull better as they remain level on points with Leeds but above them due to a significantly better goal difference.

Rookie Leeds midfielder Jonny Howson, 19, was handed his full debut with skipper Kevin Nicholls serving the first of a three-match ban.

Robbie Blake and Ugo Ehiogu returned to the starting line-up after shaking off injury while David Healy and Hayden Foxe were dropped.

Tony Warner also returned in place of the injured Graham Stack to make his first start since October. Hull caretaker boss Phil Brown made three changes to the side which hammered Cardiff 4-1 last weekend after injuries and illness ruled out Nick Barmby, Ian Ashbee and David Livermore.

The trio were replaced by Michael Turner, Ryan France and former Leeds striker Michael Bridges.

The tackles flew in from both sides from the first whistle and Howson appeared particularly keen to make his mark.

In the fifth minute the teenager caught Wales full-back Sam Ricketts with a late challenge which earned him a stern lecture from referee Mark Clattenburg but no yellow card.

Eddie Lewis was again deployed at left-back by Leeds boss Dennis Wise but he nonetheless emerged as his side's most creative source.

The first of a stream of excellent crosses from the USA international led to Jonathan Douglas firing goalwards from 12 yards before his effort was blocked.

A superbly-flighted cross from Blake in the 16th minute was cleared by Andy Dawson but Hull looked the more dangerous in attack.

Bridges cleverly dropped deep to collect possession and set up a series of probing attacks which threatened to tear Leeds apart.

In the 19th minute, Craig Fagan sent Bridges into Leeds' 18-yard box and the former Sunderland striker showed some delightful footwork to create a shooting opportunity.

His low left-foot strike was goalbound but Ehiogu stuck a boot to avert the danger.

Blake's influence on proceedings began to grow and he came agonisingly close to opening the scoring in the 24th minute with a low 25-yard strike which flashed inches wide.

Hull striker Steve McPhee succumbed to injury four minutes later and was replaced by Nicky Forster, who soon hit a dipping effort which sailed just wide of Warner's far post.

In a half of precious few noteworthy goalscoring opportunities, Leeds came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 40th minute.

Eddie Lewis whipped in a superb cross from the left and Tresor Kandol, on loan from Barnet, rose to plant a firm header goalwards which Tigers goalkeeper Boaz Myhill tipped over the crossbar.

Two minutes after the break France should have done better than head straight at Warner after connecting with Ricketts' cross from the right.

Hull again came close on the hour mark when Fagan embarked on a brilliant run down the left flank and beat a clutch of opponents to reach the byline.

He crossed low across the face of goal but failed to find a team-mate as Leeds cleared the danger.

Midway through the second half, the pendulum swung back towards Leeds and two more wicked deliveries from Lewis drew equally fine clearances from Damien Delaney.

Howson had a gilt-edged chance to score in the 75th minute but he scuffed his shot wide as the sides remain deadlocked at the final whistle.