Portsmouth missed a golden chance to cement their place at the sixth position of the Premiership table as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Newcastle at Fratton Park. The match was not as dull as the score line suggests, but neither was it a thriller.

Pompey had several gilt edged chances to seal the game in their favor and manager Harry Redknapp was left frustrated as new signing and England striker Jermain Defoe missed a host of chances. Niko Kranjcar started off the game well and on 15 minutes unleashed a fierce shot only to see Steve Harper effect a good save.

On 28 minutes, Newcastle had a great chance when Joey Barton threaded through a great ball to Mark Viduka. However the Australian's lay off was too cute for Obafemi Martins. On 33 minutes, Glen Johnson put a fine cross into the box and Defoe's drive could have gone anywhere, but it bounced off his legs away from the Newcastle goal.

After the break, Defoe missed a host of chances starting with a 52nd minute opportunity when he was unmarked and received a Sulley Muntari cross only to thread it past the post. On 58 minutes, Johnson and Kanu looked to have broken the deadlock, but the former’s shot deflected off Defoe out of the line. Defoe was again denied by Harper minutes later.

Michael Owen followed up with a chance to pull off a win, but with only David James to beat, he managed to put the ball over the bar. The game then petered out to a dull finish and both teams had to be happy with one point each.