Both Stoke and Cardiff were left just four points above the Premier League relegation zone after a dull goalless draw at the Britannia Stadium on Wednesday

Stoke did have the ball in the net right at the end of the first half but it was rightly ruled out by the officials as Geoff Cameron was offside.

Oussama Assaidi, on loan to Stoke from Liverpool, had previously had the best chance of the half while, at the other end, Potters keeper Asmir Begovic saved well from Cardiff's Jordon Mutch.

Cardiff had a penalty appeal early in the second half when Fraizer Campbell went down but referee Michael Oliver allowed play to continue.

And they came closest to scoring late on through youngster Declan John and Stoke were booed off by their own fans at full-time, although they had at least kept a clean sheet following last weekend's 4-0 loss at Everton.

Stoke manager Mark Hughes made two changes after the defeat at Goodison Park, with Jonathan Walters's run of 102 consecutive Premier League starts ended by a thigh problem.

The home side had their best spell of the match nearing the half-hour mark.

Approaching the half-hour mark the hosts had their best spell of the match.

Charlie Adam produced a cross that Peter Crouch felt he was blocked from getting to by Kevin Theophile-Catherine but Oliver gave a free-kick to Cardiff.

Campbell, not long after his penalty appeal, fell to the ground at a free-kick after appearing to be pushed in the wall by Adam, who was booked in the first half.

But it was the Cardiff man and Crouch -- who swung an arm towards Campbell -- who were shown yellow cards.

Lanky England striker Crouch got on the end of an Aassaidi cross in the 68th minute but headed over the crossbar.

Stoke substitute Stephen Ireland tried to pass when he should have shot and then fired wildly over the crossbar after Marshall had pushed away Adam's free-kick.

But it was Cardiff who nearly scored in injury time, teenager John's low shot well saved by Begovic.

And come the final whistle, unimpressed Stoke fans treated their own side to a chorus of boos.