Sven-Goran Eriksson's first taste of the FA Cup ended with Manchester City and West Ham sharing a goalless draw at Upton Park.

City created the best opportunities with Stephen Ireland twice denied by Hammers goalkeeper Robert Green and only a last-ditch challenge from Anton Ferdinand stopped Nery Castillo scoring on his debut.

City also had strong shouts for a first-half penalty after the dangerous Martin Petrov went down under a challenge from Ferdinand.

West Ham created chances of their own but generally lacked any cutting edge up front, where Dean Ashton was disappointing alongside Carlton Cole.

Matthew Etherington forced Joe Hart into a low save in the first half but otherwise West Ham hardly tested the City goalkeeper.

The replay is at the City of Manchester Stadium a week on Wednesday.

While Eriksson never took England past a quarter-final, he has an impressive cup record at domestic level having won silverware with IFK Gothenburg, Benfica, Roma, Sampdoria and Lazio.

City, who had beaten West Ham on the last three occasions, gave a debut to Mexican striker Castillo.

Both sides concentrated their attacks down the respective left flanks, with Etherington and Petrov heavily involved in an open first period.

Etherington was back in side for the first time in a month after recovering from a groin injury and he caused City some early troubles as West Ham twice looked to hit them on the counter-attack.

John Pantsil slipped the ball to Etherington who burst down the left flank and looked to pick out Hayden Mullins in the box, forcing Micah Richards into a last-ditch clearance.

City full-back Michael Ball evaded two challenges to break into the box but Matthew Upson was on hand to clear and West Ham launched another counter-attack.

Carlton Cole's flick fell to Etherington on the edge of the City area but his left-footed volley was shanked wide.

With all the attacking, open football on offer a goal seemed inevitable and City increasingly appeared likely to make the breakthrough.

Mark Noble conceded possession carelessly in the West Ham half and Vedran Corluka chipped the ball towards midfielder Stephen Ireland in the box.

Ireland opted to take his shot first time on the turn and could only hook his volley over the bar.

Play swung again down West Ham's end again as Ferdinand allowed a long ball to bounce and Darius Vassell stole in to snatch possession.

Petrov steamed past Lucas Neill into the box and went down under a challenge from Ferdinand but referee Rob Styles waved away strong appeals for a penalty.

City were then denied by a point-blank save from Green from Ireland latched onto Petrov's deep cross with a driven volley, which the Hammers goalkeeper touched over the bar.

West Ham were creating opportunities themselves. They lacked the clinical final ball to really test City but Joe Hart was called on to produce an excellent near-post save from Etherington's low drive.

Ashton was making himself busy around the City area and won two free-kicks in dangerous positions but first George McCartney and then Noble failed to capitalise.

Meanwhile, Petrov continued to be a constant threat down the left and he whipped another dangerous low ball towards Castillo.

If Ferdinand had been lucky to escape censure for his early challenge on Petrov, he earned that good fortune with a magnificent last-ditch interception to deny the Mexican just six yards out.

West Ham began the second half on the counter-attack again, earning another free-kick within striking distance but Ashton's drive was blocked easily by the City wall.

Green was alert to race off his line and dive at Corluka's feet as the Croatian burst into the box.

And the West Ham goalkeeper was forced to produce another athletic block to deny a fierce Ireland volley for the second time.

West Ham upped their tempo when City captain Richard Dunne left the field for treatment on a facial injury but they could not take advantage as Mullins' strike flew wide.

City replaced Castillo with Gelson Fernandes and switched to five in midfield, and in the closing stages and West Ham looked to press home the initiative.

Cole saw a volley disappear wide and when the ball fell to Spector in the box from a corner his first-time shot was lifted over the bar.

Ashton got the ball caught under his feet inside the City area but then latched onto a cross from Kyel Reid and forced Hart to tip his header over the bar.

Dunne scrambled back to get ahead of Ashton and clear Reid's cross for an injury-time corner which West Ham could not capitalise from.

Cole challenged for the ball and West Ham appealed for handball and a penalty but there was no dramatic finish.

Teams:

West Ham Green, Neill (Spector 46), Ferdinand, Upson, McCartney, Pantsil, Noble, Mullins (Bowyer 75),Etherington (Reid 69), Ashton, Cole.

Subs Not Used: Wright, Collins.

Man City Hart, Onuoha, Dunne, Richards, Ball, Ireland (Etuhu 66), Corluka, Hamann, Petrov,Castillo (Gelson 72), Vassell (Bianchi 79).

Subs Not Used: Schmeichel, Garrido.

Booked: Corluka.

Att: 33,806

Ref: Rob Styles (Hampshire).