Coventry City 0-0 Stoke City: Sky Blues and Potters end up goalless again

Coventry City suffered their third straight 0-0 home draw at St Andrew's as they took a point off promotion-chasing Stoke City.

In a game of few on-target efforts, it was a third successive away goalless draw for Michael O'Neill's Potters.

Stoke midfielder Jordan Thompson went close either side of the break, hitting the bar with the second of his two attempts.

Striker Steven Fletcher could have earned the visitors all three points but was twice wide with good headed chances, first when Nathan Collins headed a deep free-kick across goal and then from Tommy Smith's cross.

Coventry striker Matty Godden, last season's top scorer, was making his first start for almost two months after a foot injury, but he fired the hosts' best chance straight at Joe Bursik.

The behind-closed-doors fixture ended with both sides racking up their fifth 0-0 draw in 21 Championship games this season.

Stoke, who stay seventh, are now unbeaten in their last five away league games against Coventry, having now kept a clean sheet in 11 of 13 away trips this season.

While, after shipping 12 goals in their first five home league matches this season, Mark Robins' men, who remain 18th, have now let in just one in their last five at their rented Birmingham home.

Coventry City manager Mark Robins told BBC CWR:

"It's a good point against really strong opposition. You look at their bench and it's frightening. They've got some talent.

"They didn't really create too much but they kept things really tight at the back. They make it difficult to create chances, never mind score goals.

"So, from our point of view we created quite a bit. Up until the first hour we had the better opportunities. At some points we passed a bit too much and should have taken our shots earlier.

"It was probably a fair result at the end of it. A clean sheet and a point. A really good point."

Stoke City manager Michael O'Neill told BBC Radio Stoke:

"We are disappointed not to win, to be honest. We had enough chances to win. We just couldn't find the goal.

"It was disappointing really because in the second half we were very dominant. But that's the nature of this league.

"I have to give credit to Coventry. They defended the box really well at times. We just couldn't find that clear header or really good opportunity.

"We're pleased with the squad as it is. When you look at the teams occupying the automatic play-off places we've still got a way to go to compete with them, but I feel we're going in the right direction."