Both Jim Magilton and Phil Parkinson of Hull had points of their own to prove, with their respective clubs looking to get off the mark in the league.
Parkinson was one of the managers Ipswich asked permission to speak to before appointing Magilton. The Colchester chairman Peter Heard refused, and also said no to Charlton and Derby County.
But a disgruntled Parkinson eventually quit the club he had taken to the second tier of English football for the first time in its history.
Hull City ended up paying £400,000 in compensation after the U’s originally took out a High Court injunction banning Parkinson from talking to any club.
Ironically, Hull, Colchester and Ipswich started the day clumped together at the bottom of the Championship without a point between them, and it was clear that these two are where they are on merit.
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Ipswich had made seven changes from the team that lost in midweek at Leicester and included two new loan signings in Mark Noble and Simon Walton. So it was understandable that Town looked a little disjointed, especially in midfield.
Evergreen Nick Barmby might have put Hull ahead after just 30 seconds but miscued while Ipswich’s Alan Lee headed a clear chance over the bar.
Mistakes dictated the tempo and only Ipswich goalkeeper Lewis Price really had to work for his money when he got behind a Dean Marney free kick.
Everything else was woefully off target in a drab first half. Nicky Forster looked the most dangerous threat for Ipswich, setting up Lee and Walton, and only a last-ditch tackle from Michael Turner denied him a shot. Hull’s Jon Parkin went looking for his fourth goal in as many games but never found his range.
Ipswich improved as they got used to each other, though, and when Danny Haynes and Darren Currie were introduced as substitutes, the Blues looked the likely to break the stalemate. A series of corners and crosses tested City’s defence but they were able to hang on for a clean sheet. The Tigers’ best chances came from Marney who hit a shot straight at Price after Ryan France had set him up.
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It was the first time in 47 league games that Ipswich have been involved in a goalless draw, and it was in front of their lowest league crowd in two seasons.
Ipswich 0 Hull 0
Star Man: Sam Collins (Hull City)
Player ratings. Ipswich: Price 6, Bruce 6 (Wilnis 85), Harding 6, Naylor 6, De Vos 6, Walton 6, Williams 6, Peter 5 (Currie 76) 6, Noble 6, Lee 6, Forster 6
Hull: Myhill 6, Ricketts 7, Turner 7, Collins 7, Dawson 7, Fagan 6, Marney 7 (Welsh, 83), Livermore 7, France 6, Barmby 5 (Duffy, 71) 6, Parkin 6
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Referee: D Galllagher
Attendance: 19,719 George Davis at Portman Road