City held by in-form Pompey

Portsmouth's third goalless draw in their last four home matches ensured their opponents Manchester City stay above them in third place in the Barclays Premier League.

There were no missed penalties this time - as against Liverpool and West Ham, which cost Pompey vital points - but Glen Johnson and £6million substitute David Nugent both hit the woodwork.

Portsmouth nonetheless chalked up their eighth successive league game without defeat - and City deserved their point too.

Sven-Goran Eriksson's men made a solid recovery from their last away trip in the league - when they shipped six goals at Chelsea - and the passing and movement of Brazilian pair Elano and Gelson, on his league debut, was a joy to watch.

But ultimately it was young goalkeeper Joe Hart's skills that kept City in the contest.

Pompey were first into their stride in an absorbing first half. Benjani Mwaruwari headed over from Johnson's cross; Kanu's fierce shot from a Benjani pass forced Hart to push aside for a corner, and then Sean Davis fired narrowly over - all inside the first three minutes.

Johnson's low blast on 20 minutes was another test for Hart. But he held on well, and City were happy to keep Pompey at long range.

Richard Dunne was left exposed by City's first serious slip in defence on 34 minutes when, with Kanu causing havoc and backing in, Dietmar Hamann gave the ball away to Johnson. The right-back surged past Dunne to hit a cracker which Hart superbly palmed against the bar and away.

Nugent's thundering shot in the 72nd minute came back off a post and miraculously did not hit the diving Hart as it rebounded clear.

Nugent, still looking for his first Premier League goal, featured again when he slipped Johnson in for a shot which Hart at first fumbled. But the goalkeeper still had the presence of mind to get up and foil Benjani's follow-up.