Leicester City 0 Cardiff City 0: Jones to rebuild after takeover

Off-field matters have dominated life at these clubs - and a turgid game did little to change that. Cardiff City are now without a win in seven games and Leicester City's mini-run is over.

This contest did not deserve a winner, although Dave Jones regards Friday's handover of power by Sam Hammam for a reported £27million as more welcome than any three points.

"It was a massive step for everyone - now let's build," said the manager of Cardiff's lurch to within 10 minutes of probable administration and a 10-point forfeit. Robert Kelly hopes Jones is not alone in being able to start planning some new year buying. While Leicester need a successful and speedy resolution to Milan Mandaric's drawn-out takeover talks, and so their fledgling manager can strengthen a young, thin squad.

"It would be nice to get everything settled for everyone's sake," Kelly said. "But I can't affect that and will be told when it happens."

Leicester brought life to an awful first half by forcing Neil Alexander into a stoppage-time double save, the keeper pushing aside Iain Hume's 20-yarder and recovering wonderfully to block Elvis Hammond' s follow-up.

Gareth Williams later fired wide and substitute Matthew Fryatt was standing offside when touching in Alan Maybury's cross-shot.

Maybury intervened crucially at the other end by blocking Paul Parry's effort on the line and Michael Chopra should have done better than miscue off target when set up close in by Kevin McNaughton. Kerrea Gilbert, on loan from Arsenal, made an encouraging return to Jones's defence following a two-month absence with a shoulder injury and there was pleasing news of Riccardo Scimeca.

The former Leicester midfielder, sent to hospital with breathing difficulties after a first-half collision left him coughing up blood, returned to the ground and hopes to train today.