Ipswich were dragged back into the relegation zone after a tame goalless draw with Aston Villa at Portman Road.

George Burley's side endured a sixth game without victory and results elsewhere went against them.

Despite creating the majority of the chances, Ipswich could not find a way past Peter Schmeichel and Bolton's win at Charlton leaves them third bottom in the Premiership.

On the evidence provided this afternoon in Suffolk it was hard to believe these two sides were English representatives in the UEFA Cup this season.

But a point apiece - Ipswich had not beaten Villa at home for 18 years - was scant return for the pair who have failed to emulate their achievements of last year.

Ipswich, who welcomed former Villa striker Luc Nilis as guest of honour - the Belgian international had his career ended in the corresponding fixture last season - dominated for the most part but lacked punch up front.

Holland got a sight of goal as early as the second minute after Olof Mellberg only half cleared on the edge of the area.

But the Republic of Ireland midfielder dragged wide with Marcus Stewart and Marcus Bent better placed.

The home side's plans were disrupted as early as the sixth minute when a Vassell challenge caught Chris Makin on the right ankle he has been struggling with in recent weeks.

Despite attempting to continue, Burley was forced into a change with Jermaine Wright filling in as a makeshift full-back and Jim Magilton coming into midfield.

A moment of individual brilliance by Finidi George then forced Peter Schmeichel into his first save of the contest just before the quarter-hour.

The former Ajax winger teed himself up before volleying with his right foot from 20 yards and Schmeichel scrambled the ball away down his left.

Then, after Bent earned his side a corner on the right, the striker met Mark Venus' delivery unmarked, Schmeichel this time flapping the ball out from on his line and saving once again from the same man when Villa failed to clear.

At the other end, the visitors failed to trouble Matteo Sereni - a Thomas Hitzlsperger long-range effort the closest they came in the first period.

Venus' ability from dead balls, meanwhile, continued to pose problems for Villa.

On the half-hour, a Venus corner from the right was flicked on by Stewart but John McGreal could not make contact at the far post.

Both sides were understandably tentative with Villa having won just one of their previous six Premiership matches and Ipswich with just one point from the last 15.

As a result attacking play lacked conviction, highlighted within a minute of the restart as space opened up ahead of George.

The Nigerian's bobbling shot lacked power but inadvertently set up Bent, who deflected the ball narrowly wide.

When Vassell's pace enabled the forward to get the byline his cross for strike partner Dublin it took a perfectly-timed defensive header by Hermann Hreidarsson to snuff out the chance.

But Ipswich continued to look the more likely to find a breakthrough and Schmeichel once again kept them out on the hour.

Wright's curling cross picked out Stewart but his diving header was kept out by one of the giant Dane's right foot.

Hitzlsperger, Villa's outstanding performer, flashed a shot round an upright after a neat turn on the edge of the area.

However, Ipswich got closer still in the 68th-minute as Jamie Clapham's left-wing centre was laid off by George to Jim Magilton, whose first shot was kicked away by Schmeichel before striking the post with his follow-up.

Another Wright cross allowed Bent to control and volley on the turn but Mellberg's block resulted in a corner.

Ipswich's were exposed, though, seven minutes from time when Magilton lost possession in midfield and George Boateng slipped in Vassell, whose shot was palmed away by Sereni.

And they could have lost but for some fortune at the death.

First, Sereni stretched full length to tip a Hitzlsperger drive over the top.

Then, from Steve Staunton's resultant corner Magilton flicked on across his own goal and Sereni touched the ball onto the woodwork.

Teams:

Ipswich: Sereni, Makin (Magilton 10), McGreal, Venus, Hreidarsson, George (Reuser 83), Holland, Wright, Clapham, Stewart (Armstrong 83), Marcus Bent.

Subs Not Used: Marshall, Counago.

Aston Villa: Schmeichel, Delaney, Mellberg, Staunton, Samuel (Taylor 80), Stone, Hitzlsperger, Boateng, Barry, Dublin, Vassell.

Subs Not Used: Merson, Enckelman, Balaban, Hadji.

Booked: Dublin, Delaney.

Att: 25,247

Ref: D Pugh (Bebington).