Portsmouth and Newcastle fought out a scrappy 0-0 draw at Fratton Park in a Premier League game neither side really deserved to win.The visitors just edged a dour first period which only came to life five minutes prior to half time as Newcastle looked to turn their possession into a lead.

Michael Owen was millimetres from connecting with an inswinging free-kick before Mark Viduka hit a volley from 10 yards into the ground and the grateful arms of David James.

The England stopper immediately set the home side away on a counter-attack which resulted in Kanu's shot rebounding off Steven Taylor's arm but the Pompey protests were waved away by referee Phil Dowd.

There was still time before the interval for Taylor to send an acrobatic volley from Nicky Butt's cross into the side-netting but the best chance of the game came the home side's way nine minutes into the second half.

Sully Muntari's cross-field ball picked out Jermain Defoe, who had escaped the attentions of Habib Beye, but with time and space to pick his spot, the Pompey striker directed his close-range volley harmlessly wide of Steve Harper's goal.

James had to be alert to get down to Obafemi Martin's drive from a tight-angle on 56 minutes before Defoe inadvertently got in the way of Glen Johnson's strike from the edge of the box as the game opened up.

Defoe led another Pompey counter-attack before his deflected effort from 18 yards was pushed wide by the diving Harper whilst James at the other end was forced into two saves in a minute to preserve parity.

The veteran stopper first blocked Owen's point-blank volley with his head before he was forced into a diving catch to keep out Geremi's long-range drive.

Defoe was twice off-target again before Martins dragged a late effort wide as the game headed towards a goalless stalemate which leaves Pompey four points off fifth-placed Everton while Newcastle remain 12th above north east rivals Middlesbrough and Sunderland.

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