Saints drew a blank at home for only the second time this season as they came up against a determined Charlton defence at The Dell this afternoon.

The shutout followed that against Manchester City back in October as Glenn Hoddle's side bounced off a determined blue shirted wall.

Saints came closest to breaking the deadlock with Matthew Oakley shuddering the bar and the Saints midfield player was also denied by Dean Kiely's stunning one-handed save.

James Beattie was twice denied in the first-half, first by Kiely's outstretched leg when he was clean through and the Carling Player of the Month for December saw a free-kick blocked on the line by Graham Stuart.

But generally Saints found Charlton's central defensive trio of Mark Fish, Richard Rufus and Andy Todd as difficult to shift as a stubborn stain and Saints lacked the wit and craft to prise them open often enough.

Charlton had their moments with former Pompey striker, Mat Svensson surprised as anyone when the ball bounced off him and wide of the target from a long throw but a Charlton side depleted of its top scorer, Jonatan Johansson came prepared to scrap it out for a point and got that.

Saints new signing Dan Petrescu was given a 15-minute run out by Glenn Hoddle but was unable to inspire his new team mates and fluffed the chance to start his career in dream fashion when he blazed a half chance over the bar from 18-yards.

But at the end it was Charlton boss Alan Curbishley who was out on The Dell pitch to slap his player's backs after prising a point from a game in which Saints enjoyed the Lion's share of the possession and much the territorial advantage.

Final score Saints 0 - Charlton 0

FOR FULL REPORTS AND PICTURES SEE TONIGHT'S PINK AND MONDAY'S SOUTHERN DAILY ECHO