Paul Lambert was left ruing a late, failed penalty appeal as City added another vital point to their collection at Hull.

Good link-up play between Russell Martin and Henri Lanbsury came to an end when Martin went down in the area under challenge from Andy Dawson.

Martin was furious when referee Rob Shoebridge waved away his appeals – and was backed by Lambert afterwards.

'How he has missed that penalty I don't know, I really don't know,' he said.

'The referee is turning round saying that Russell has fouled him first – then why did he never give the foul? It's a penalty. If he is saying Russell Martin fouled the lad first then he has got to give the free-kick. He never gave them a free-kick. I just found it a bizarre decision.

'But the way we played and what is happening at this football club is extraordinary at the minute. Absolutely brilliant we were.'

City went ahead when Zak Whitbread celebrated his call up to the US squad with a header on 27 minutes.

'Terrific goal from a lad that has been colossal for us,' said Lambert, who almost saw his side snatch all three points through Simeon Jackson late on, although keeper Brad Guzan did well to turn his shot away.

'It was a brilliant save from the goalkeeper, top class,' said Lambert. 'But I thought it was a very open game.

'I am delighted with the way we played - we came to a very, very hard place, their form has been terrific of late, Hull, and we gave as good as we got.'

Hull levelled through veteran Nick Barmby on 74 minutes.

'From Hull's point of view it would have been a good goal for them – for us it was disappointing, but what those lads have done for this club has been massive,' said Lambert.

Hull boss Nigel Pearson said: 'It was a bit of a frustrating game. We've had good chances until the game opened up in the last 15 minutes they've hardly created a chance.

'As far as I'm concerned we did a really job on stifling them and still creating really good chances, but we didn't take them. Both sides tried to win it.'