Southampton manager George Burley had to settle for a share of the points against former club Derby as the two sides contested a goalless draw at St Mary's.

A much-changed Saints side enjoyed the better of a scrappy encounter as both sides seemed content to avoid the defeat which would have dragged them even closer towards the Championship drop-zone.

Burley, who was in charge at Pride Park for two years before quitting the Rams in 2005, made four changes to the side which lost 2-1 at Plymouth in midweek, and it was one of those changes which almost made the difference early on.

Peter Madsen, a loan signing from German Bundesliga strugglers Cologne, went close to marking his debut with a goal following a long throw by fellow debutant Alexander Ostlund, but his flicked header went over the bar.

A scrappy passage of play followed as both sides felt their way into the game, before Saints midfielder Andrew Surman tried his luck from distance with 10 minutes on the clock, but the South African youngster was unable to add to his midweek strike at Home Park.

Adam Bolder flashed an angled shot wide of Bartosz Bialkowski's far post for Derby and Lee Holmes saw his low drive blocked by Claus Lundekvam on the edge of the penalty area.

A powerful effort from Kenwyne Jones forced County goalkeeper Lee Camp into action midway through the half as the England Under-21 man had to be at his best to tip around the post.

Burley's men went close again on the half hour when Darren Potter - making his first home start following his loan move from Liverpool - broke from midfield.

But his dangerous-looking surge into the Derby area was halted by a brave last-ditch block by Darren Moore.

Moore might have done better at the other end when he headed a Inigo Idiakez corner straight into the arms of Bialkowski from just six yards as the half drew to its conclusion.

Jones tested Camp again soon after the restart when he cut inside from the right flank and delivered a low swerving drive, but the Rams 'keeper smothered at his near post.

Long-range efforts from Idiakez and Giles Barnes just before the hour failed to worry Bialkowski as Derby struggled to break down Southampton's resolute defence.

Terry Westley's men - academy coach Westley in charge of first-team affairs following the dismissal of Phil Brown on Monday - lacked penetration in the final third, and with new Brazilian striker Silva, on-loan Tottenham marksman Mounir El Hamdaoui and Paul Peschisolido all absent, they lacked bite up front.

A point underlined in the 69th minute when Barnes picked the ball up 25 yards from goal, but lacking support he opted to shoot and blazed high over the bar.

Both sides offered little from that point as a game between two sides who have each drawn on 15 occasions this term ended in stalemate.

Teams

Southampton Bialkowski, Ostlund, Lundekvam, Higginbotham,Brennan, Kosowski (Dyer 45), Potter, Oakley, Surman,Madsen (Blackstock 45), Jones (Fuller 79).

Subs Not Used: Smith, Kenton.

Derby Camp, Edworthy, Moore, Hajto,Michael Johnson (Jackson 45), Smith, Bolder, Idiakez,Barnes (Doyle 90), Holmes (Bisgaard 67), Graham.

Subs Not Used: Poole, Ainsworth.

Att: 21,829

Ref: P Taylor (Hertfordshire).