Feyenoord and FC Utrecht cancelled each other out in a dull 0-0 draw in Rotterdam.

The match was a clash of fourth and fifth in the Eredivisie but the 44,000 crowd made their displeasure clear as neither side produced any real flair in a drab, goalless encounter.

The quality of the game was significantly lower than could have been expected from a fixture between two sides who have made decent starts to the season.

Neither side managed anything of note in the first half with creativity woefully absent .

Both teams surely had a stern talking to at the break and, three minutes after the restart, the first opportunity finally arrived.

It was the visitors who forged it when Dries Mertens forced his way into the box from the wing, moved to the left and fired goalwards right-footed.

However, Feyenoord goalkeeper Torres Darley blocked the effort with his right foot to keep the score level.

Shortly after the hour mark the Rotterdammers carved out a chance of their own.

Substitute Luigi Bruins received the ball in the area and went to the byline, sending his cross beyond goalkeeper Michel Vorm but defender Mihai Nesu managed to hack it away.

Five minutes later Mertens crossed left-footed and as his centre eluded two Feyenoord defenders, Jacob Mulenga leapt to head the ball but could only direct his effort spectacularly wide.

It was by far the clearest chance of the match and Mulenga was horrified by his inability to convert.

Out-of-favour veteran Roy Makaay, on as a substitute, had a chance to penalise the visitors when a chance came his way in added time but he saw a shot well blocked.