WHEN Allan McGregor was named Man of the Match during the closing minutes of this drab contest, a decision met with polite approval around the KC Stadium, it spoke more of Hull City's failings than the Scot's heroics.
Although McGregor had been to thank for securing the Tigers a 13th point of the season, keeping out Graham Dorran's early penalty and Craig Gardner's arrowed free-kick with excellent saves, the goalkeeper's team-mates had been unable to maximise his contributions.
City huffed and puffed until their very last breath but Christmas felt about as imminent as a match-winning goal for Steve Bruce's side.
Ben Foster, McGregor's counterpart, was asked to make just one save of note all afternoon.
This was not how West Brom's visit was supposed to go.
After stopping the rot of four consecutive defeats at Everton three days earlier, there was good reason to believe a date with a fellow struggler would end with City making a purposeful stride up the Premier League table. If only.
Bruce took umbrage at such assumptions when forced to settle for a draw yet it is hard to imagine too many better opportunities to find one of the 10 wins needed for Premier League survival.
Chelsea away this weekend is certainly not one of them.
Back-to-back draws have not been enough for City to keep their heads above the rising waters of the relegation zone simply because rivals are now finding the victories they cannot.
Leicester, rock-bottom and sinking, are the only side that failed to win in the time that has followed the Tigers' most recent success on October 4.
If the midweek draw at Everton had offered hope of a Eureka moment, a stalemate back on home soil was much less encouraging.
The same industry and desire spilt over from Goodison Park but a dearth of verve and vigour ensured West Brom's visit was destined to fall flat. Only McGregor spared the Tigers from an altogether more deflating result.
Although far from being the unanimous verdict of the KC jury, the odd jeer could be heard on the full-time whistle.
Patience is only ever finite in the Premier League and Bruce sensed a simmering restlessness.
"The supporters, rightly so, are not happy," said Bruce. "Apparently they're all driving off the Humber Bridge.
"What I would say to supporters is 'look, it's always going to be difficult'. This is only our fourth season ever in the Premier League.
"What you do need is to stay together, stay positive and try not to beat yourself up too much.
"I'm convinced that we've got enough here to do better than we did last year."
Bruce spoke of realigning expectations and a stoic belief that this season will end well, but he will have hoped for more here. West Brom, a side stinging from four consecutive defeats, were made to feel alarmingly comfortable by City's blunt attacking edge.
Neither side could claim to have done enough for a precious victory but it was the visitors who enjoyed the greater share of possession, as well as the game's best opening in the 10th minute.
Thank goodness for McGregor and his wonderful habit of penalty saves.
Jake Livermore's clumsy challenge on Victor Anichebe had earned the Baggies a spot-kick but one Scotland international denied another, as McGregor dived low to his left to deny Dorrans.
After a spot-kick save on his debut at Chelsea 16 months ago and another on the opening day of the season at QPR, McGregor has now kept out all three penalties he has faced since arriving in the Premier League from Besiktas.
City's let-off ought to have been the platform to strike back but a reaction never quite came.
The tactics of Bruce and Alan Irvine to pack the midfield ensured much of the play was condensed into narrow and congested areas.
In total, there were eight players starting the game perhaps best described as central midfielders.
Tom Huddlestone and Livermore, flanked by David Meyler and Stephen Quinn, were never able to gain a stranglehold of the game, leaving the lively Sone Aluko in a thankless role supporting Abel Hernandez.
Too many long balls were aimed in their direction, gobbled up by the West Brom defence.
Across the board, from front to back, City were game but unconvincing.
They plugged away in the second half with Aluko and Hernandez shooting wide and on the hour mark came the home team's one and only attempt on target.
Livermore sent in a cross from the right channel to find Quinn lurking on the penalty spot but a downward header was pushed aside by Foster.
Hernandez came close with a header of his own from Robbie Brady's free-kick, darting narrowly wide, but West Brom were the side that again mustered the greatest threat.
Gardner lured a foul from Huddlestone, picked himself up and sent a lovely shot over the wall and towards the top corner.
McGregor scrambled across his line and pushed brilliantly wide in a save Bruce described as one of the best seen this season.
Foster, meanwhile, was given no such problems as City's challenge flickered and blew itself out.
At least the fit-again McGregor picks himself because few others leave Bruce without an option.
The lack of individual consistency has become a problem for the City boss this season.
In the eight games that have followed the 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace, Bruce has now started 22 different players.
Injuries account for much of the chopping and changing but City's strongest side is still not strikingly apparent four months into the season. That felt like the big conclusion to take away from this draw and with Premier League leaders Chelsea up next, it may now take a victory at home to Swansea to ensure City can celebrate Christmas outside of the bottom three.
