West Ham 0 Portsmouth 0

But a resilient Portsmouth, under new manager Tony Adams, proved a tough nut to crack and created enough chances of their own, mainly through Hammers' old boy Jermain Defoe, to have snatched an unlikely win.

Defoe was joined by two more ex-Irons in David James and Glen Johnson, with England manager Fabio Capello watching from the stands to cast his eye over international hopefuls from both sides.

The goalless draw did mean the Hammers kept their first clean sheet in 27 matches, largely due to some excellent goalkeeping from Robert Green.

The England player who marked his 300th league appearance by making three fine second half saves to deny Defoe.

After last week's late capitulation to Everton there was a subdued atmosphere at the Boleyn, which the home side did little to stir with a low-key first half performance.

Zola sent out an adventurous 4-3-3 formation, with Freddie Sears lining up alongside Carlton Cole and Craig Bellamy in attack.

There was little of note from either side during the opening period, although the Hammers did have a decent shout for handball against Sylvain Distin turned down by referee Martin Atkinson.

And Cole, back in the starting line-up after a three match suspension, missed a golden chance presented to him when Noe Pamarot made a hash of a clearance but the big striker failed to convert.

In truth the Hammers' passing and movement lacked the pace and guile necessary to unlock Portsmouth's massed defence, while the visitors seemed content to play on the break, with Defoe's speed and Johnson's foraging down the right flank all the threat they offered.

It was a different story in the second half as both sides created some good chances.

The visitors threatened first with Defoe latching onto a through-ball to get into the box and unleash a well-disguised shot that Green acrobatically tipped over on 47 minutes.

Green was in action again two minutes later when Defoe again broke clear but his lob lacked sufficient height to clear the goalkeeper and Green managed to clear the danger.

West Ham's best chance came in the 53rd minute when Behrami was brought down on the edge of the Pompey box - although the decision seemed harsh - and Craig Bellamy hit the resultant free-kick against the bar.

Jack Collison followed up to drive a shot goalward but James managed to scramble to his left to collect the ball.

The Hammers were starting to produce some good passing football and carved an opening for Parker just inside the Portsmouth box but his shot drifted wide.

By this time the Irons were forced to reorganise their defence after Herita Ilunga was forced off after 61 minutes with an injured ankle.

Lucas Neill switched to left-back and Julien Faubert came on to fill the right-back berth, despite looking distinctly uncomfortable there last week.

And Faubert was found wanting almost immediately when Defoe, again latching on to a quick through ball, turned him inside out to create a one-on-one chance against Green but scuffed his shot straight at the keeper.

West Ham were dominating the game but could not convert possession into shooting opportunities and Defoe, a lively presence all afternoon, almost snatched it for the visitors in the 83rd minute when he shook off his marker only to see his shot saved by Green's legs.

It would have been rough justice on the Hammers had they had the points stolen from them at the death for the second week running and it was with a mixture of relief and disappointment they greeted the final whistle.

In the end it was two points dropped rather than one gained, and with tricky away fixtures at Sunderland and Liverpool coming up, the pressure on the Hammers - and their cheerful manager - is unlikely to abate just yet.

West Ham: Green, Neill, Ilunga (Faubert, 61), Upson, Collins, Parker (Mullins, 75), Collison, Behrami, Bellamy, Sears (Etherington, 46). Unused subs: Lastuvka, Davenport, Bowyer, Di Michele.

Bookings: none

Portsmouth: James, Kaboul, Johnson, Diarra (Traore), Diop, Crouch (Kanu, 75), Defoe, Distin, Pamarot, Davis, Belhadj. Unused subs: Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Nugent, Mvuemba, Hughes.

Bookings: Pamarot.

Attendance: 32,328

Referee: Martin Atkinson.