Town should have won the game in the first 20 minutes with four chances going begging and had to settle for a point despite leading at the break through Darren Currie's free-kick.

The midfielder's strike from near the sideline beat a crowded penalty area and went in at the far post.

Hull levelled though early in the second-half when Leon Cort rose highest to head in from a left wing cross and despite frantic pressure from Town, Joe Royle's side couldn't find a winner.

Town could have been ahead as early as the third minute when Alan Lee had a shot half beaten out by Boaz Myhill and Matt Richards fired the rebound straight at the Hull 'keeper.

Cort headed wide from a corner soon after but it was Blues that carried the greater threat and Lee was unlucky to see his left foot shot headed off the line by Andy Dawson.

Ian Westlake diverted a Scott Barron delivery across goal as Town dominated the play, Cort making a brave header to deny Lee from a Sito cross.

Town got the breakthrough their play deserved on 21 minutes, Westlake brought down and Currie's free-kick escaped everyone to glide in at the far post.

The goal stung Hull into action and Stuart Green fired over from a great position, then the powerful Jon Parkin hit the sidenetting after holding off Jason De Vos.

More good work by Parkin, who impressed throughout, saw him set up Scott Wiseman with a crossfield pass, the shot going just wide.

Lee had a header saved comfortably by Myhill but the 'keeper should have been beaten on 37 minutes, the Republic of Ireland international firing over the bar after Richards set him up.

Rui Marques, who was on trial at Town in pre-season, denied Jim Magilton with a well timed challenge inside the Tigers' box before Blues lost Westlake through injury just before the break, Dean McDonald his replacement.

Currie rattled the bar with a fantastic free-kick 60 seconds into the second-half after he had been fouled by Wiseman, then his cross was cleared by Marques as Lee threatened at the far post.

Hull levelled the scores on 56 minutes, Green crossing from the left and Cort rising above the Town defence to head low past Shane Supple into the corner.

Currie sent a free-kick just over after Lee had been fouled 30 yards out then Lee set up a gilt edged chance for McDonald but he failed to make good contact with his left foot and Myhill saved comfortably.

Damien Delaney became the first player to enter referee Ray Olivier's book for a late lunge at Barron just past the hour.

Hull were visibly growing in confidence, Kevin Ellison firing over after good work by Parkin while at the other end, Currie sent the ball over the bar from a tight angle after Myhill had failed to clear Magilton's cross.

McDonald hit the post from an Owen Garvan cross, Hull desperately clearing the ball in a goalmouth scramble as Blues turned up the pressure on the visitors' goal, Myhill then saving from Magilton.

Haynes replaced the Town skipper with 15 minutes left on the clock as Blues went three up front but Hull continued to threaten on the break and it took a brilliant clearance from Barron to stop Parkin converting an Ellison cross.

Chris Casement came on for his home debut 12 minutes from time, Barron limping off and the defender's searching pass saw Haynes win a corner, Dawson eventually clearing the danger.

Lee brought another smart save from Myhill low down, then Currie tested the Tigers' No.1 from 18 yards.

Currie's cross was won superbly by Lee in the air but his header went inches wide, then Sito fired wide from distance.

Lee was denied on three occasions in time added on as Hull clung on for a point, Myhill saving brilliantly from the striker, then Garvan having a shot cleared off the line.

The draw leaves Blues still eight points adrift of the Play-Off places with six games to play.

Town: Supple, Sito, Wilnis, De Vos, Barron (Casement 78), Magilton (Haynes 75), Garvan, Richards, Westlake (McDonald 38), Lee, Currie. Subs not used: Price, Skard.