Stoke City 0
Wolves 0
A defensive contest between Stoke and Wolves ended in the goalless draw that had looked all too predictable after a largely chanceless opening half.
There were six changes to Mick McCarthy's starting line-up following the Carling Cup exit to Morecambe, with Karl Henry retaining his place against his former team.
City kicked-off defending the Boothen End of the Britannia Stadium and within two minutes they won the first corner of the game - Dominic Matteo's flag-kick being headed clear by Seyi Olofinjana.
Play went straight to the other end and Freddy Eastwood's low cross hit a defender and went behind with Steve Simonsen punching clear Michael Kightly's corner.
Play was restricted largely to the middle third of the field and it wasn't until the 24th minute that there was a shot at goal from either side - Stephen Ward firing over from 25-yards after cutting in from the left.
The first serious attempt came in the 33rd minute and even then it was a deflection that almost led to Stoke taking the lead.
Ricardo Fuller picked up a loose ball 22 yards out and hit a shot that struck Kevin Foley and ballooned narrowly over the bar.
Stephen Ward was shown the yellow card after he caught Mamady Sidibe as the Stoke man attempted a clearance.
City keeper Simonsen dealt with a Stephen Ward cross before Liam Lawrence went into the book after he felled Neill Collins with a late challenge on the left.
Kightly rolled the free-kick to Gary Breen and his 25 yard shot struck a defender before flying wide with Simonsen flatfooted.
In stoppage time Fuller pulled the ball back to Lawrence who shot into the arms of Hennessey.
Whilst neither side could have been faulted for lack of effort, there had been very little in the way of goalmouth action to excite the derby crowd.
Half-Time: Stoke 0 Wolves 0
Eastwood volleyed wide after Clint Hill had headed out a Kightly corner three minutes after the restart and then a Kightly centre just curled away from Stephen Ward who had Sidibe for company as he ran in.
Stoke threatened through Lawrence who picked up a loose ball but fired straight at Wayne Hennessey from the 18 yard line before Darren Ward managed to block a driven cross from Richard Cresswell.
Cresswell was soon earning his pay at the other end when he blocked an Andy Keogh cross and then Simonsen confidently claimed a curling centre from Kightly.
After Fuller had drilled a 20 yard shot a fraction wide, Simonsen dived to save a Darren Ward header after Kevin Foley had crossed.
Eastwood took a free-kick from a central position 25 yards out after Olofinjana had been fouled but the striker's effort struck a defender in the wall and went behind for a Kightly corner that was cleared by Cresswell as Olofinjana ran in at the far post.
Stephen Elliott was a late replacement for Eastwood but it was Stoke that came closest to grabbing the three points in the 89th minute when Rory Delap ran through onto Jon Parkin's pass.
The City man only had Hennessey to beat but he lost his balance as he ran wide of goal and fell over allowing Collins to clear.
There was some suggestion that the Wolves keeper may have clipped Delap but he later claimed to have got a slight touch on the ball.
City: Simonsen, Zakuani, Shawcross, Hill, Dickinson, Lawrence (Parkin 79), Delap, Matteo (capt), Cresswell, Sidibe (Eustace 85), Fuller.
Unused subs: Hoult, Wilkinson, Sweeney.
Booking: Lawrence (43 - foul).
Wolves: Hennessey, Foley, N. Collins, Henry (capt), Breen, D. Ward, Kightly, Olofinjana, Keogh, Eastwood (Elliott 85), S. Ward.
Unused subs: Edwards, Stack, E. Bennett, L. Collins.
Booking: S. Ward (35 - foul)
Referee: L. Mason.
Attendance: 17,135.
Sunderland 1 Wolves Academy Under 18s 0
