Blackburn's Franco di Santo and Kamil Zayatte of Hull tussle for possession

By Oliver Brett

Hull spurned some excellent chances to unlock Blackburn's defence in a match which went through dull periods of play before exploding into life late on.

Keeper Paul Robinson had a good game for the visitors, but he should have been beaten early on by Craig Fagan.

After Stephen Hunt and Richard Garcia also shot weakly for Hull, Blackburn substitute Nikola Kalinic missed three opportunities in quick succession.

Hull's Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink was also unable to break the deadlock.

The Dutchman, brought on late in the game as Hull boss Phil Brown searched desperately for someone to be a hero for the hosts, missed the last two genuine chances of the match.

This was probably more a case of two points lost for Hull than a point gained, given their precarious position just above the relegation zone and with some tough fixtures to come.

Blackburn, who had lost 11 of their past 12 league games on the road, had limited ambitions for most of the match - until Kalinic got involved halfway through the second period.

But manager Sam Allardyce, whose side maintain an important two-point lead over Hull and have a less taxing set of matches over the Christmas period, will surely not be too disappointed.

Youngsters Junior Hoilett, 19, and Franco di Santo, 20, gave Blackburn tremendous initial pace but Hull's defence coped well and it was the hosts who produced the first major opportunity courtesy of a defence-splitting pass from George Boateng.

The ball was fed delightfully to Fagan, who had plenty of time to pick his spot, but his effort lacked pace and Robinson saved well low to his left.

606: DEBATE Hopefully my gut feeling is wrong in thinking Bullard's injury is once again worse than the club are letting on. HullTiger30

Blackburn's first opening came about when two Hull defenders clattered into each other and went to ground, allowing Vince Grella to crack a shot from the edge of the penalty area though it sailed over the crossbar.

Geovanni's free-kick then rebounded off the Blackburn wall to land back at the feet of the Brazilian, who at least forced Robinson into action, with the visiting team's goalkeeper making a comfortable save.

The next significant Hull attack saw the quietly influential Dean Marney pick up a loose ball just outside the box and play in Hunt down the left. Yet again, the shot was too close to Robinson and not hit with the necessary force.

The game, played at such a low tempo for most of the first period, could surely only improve in the second half - and it did, eventually.

When a ball bounced kindly off the back of Kamil Zayatte, Di Santo turned and shot on the volley, but Blackburn's shooting was as insipid as Hull's and goalkeeper Boaz Myhill could have caught the ball with his eyes shut.

Hull then enjoyed their best period of the match, with Hunt particularly industrious on both flanks. The next squandered opportunity fell to Garcia, who turned inside his defender with a good first touch only to scuff his shot miserably into the turf.

Blackburn's supporters were soon equally frustrated when Kalinic was unable to get onto the scoresheet, the Croatian looking busy without getting his shots on target.

His first chance came courtesy of a fine header from Di Santo and was driven into the side netting, before he twice fired wide from tight angles.

Hull were incensed when their own substitute Jozy Altidore was denied a penalty, though replays suggested he may have simply tripped over his own feet.

Vennegoor of Hesselink, replacing Fagan, won possession brilliantly off Christopher Samba but then stabbed impatiently at the ball as it bounced in front of him.

His next chance, from an Altidore cross, was harder, but the header that flashed just over the corner of Robinson's goal was a better effort.

Hull boss Phil Brown:
"It was a scrappy game. You tend to get sucked into a way of playing when you play against Blackburn instead of getting the ball down and playing the way we have played of late.

"The performance was worthy of a clean sheet but maybe not worthy of the three points, although we had three or four great chances."

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce:
"I thought the chances we created were enough to have sneaked us a win if we had been more clinical in front of goal.

"When Niko Kalinic came on he had three good chances and unfortunately didn't convert any of them to get us the three points instead of one.

"But we are getting the defensive side right, which is very important. That is our fourth clean sheet in five games, which is very good."

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