Hull and Portsmouth settled for a point apiece from a dismal Barclays Premier League basement scrap.

Chances were few and far between the two lowly sides as they struggled for inspiration at the KC Stadium.

The best opportunity fell to bottom side Pompey just after the hour as Aruna Dindane and Hassan Yebda were denied by Boaz Myhill.

The biggest waves made by Hull all came off the field as first record signing Jimmy Bullard failed to make the teamsheet.

Manager Phil Brown had hoped to hand his £5million midfielder a home debut after his return from a nine month lay-off as a substitute in Monday's defeat at Fulham.

But the 31-year-old's failure to even make the bench suggested he had suffered a setback in his recovery from major knee surgery.

It then became apparent the Tigers had suffered further disruption before kick-off when USA striker Jozy Altidore revealed the reason for his omission on Twitter.

The 19-year-old wrote: "Apologize to the all of you. I showed up late. Made a big mistake I'm very very sorry." His 'Tweet' was removed shortly afterwards.

Hull's frustration, after winning just three times in the whole of 2009, was summed up as a camera caught goalkeeper Boaz Myhill involved in a heated exchange with a team-mate at half-time.

With both sides struggling in the bottom three, the match was always likely to be tense even if Pompey, having scored just five times this season, might have been confident against the competition's leakiest defence.

The visitors almost almost caught Hull inside the first minute once the game got under way.

Tommy Smith outpaced Kamil Zayatte to reach a Dindane flick-on but the former Watford forward dragged his shot across goal.

Geovanni curled a free-kick over as Hull responded while a later set-piece from Stephen Hunt wide on the right wrong-footed everyone in the box except goalkeeper David James.

Brazilian playmaker Geovanni, starting in an advanced role, looked Hull's most threatening player and created a shooting opportunity for Dean Marney by cutting inside Steve Finnan but the midfielder fired narrowly over.

Aaron Mokoena tried his luck for Pompey from outside the area but missed the target by a long way.

The recalled Seyi Olofinjana then almost gifted Smith a chance with a poor touch but Andy Dawson got back into the box to spare his blushes.

In one of few enterprising pieces of play, Olofinjana clipped a clever ball into the Pompey area but it was just out of Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's reach.

Smith turned to shoot from a Dindane ball at the other end but Paul McShane blocked.

Marney had another chance before the break but his shot was deflected for a corner.

Marney had the first chance of the second half too when a corner found its way to him 20 yards out but again he blazed off target.

Hunt then lofted in a free-kick looking for Anthony Gardner - whose return after two months out was one positive for Hull - but England goalkeeper James rose to claim.

Hull appealed for a penalty when Geovanni was picked out by Olofinjana and went down under a challenge from James but referee Stuart Attwell waved play on.

The best chance of the game fell to Dindane just after the hour as a Jamie O'Hara free-kick bounced kindly in front of goal.

The Ivorian, looking to make amends for a dreadful double miss against Tottenham last week, hit a crisp shot but Myhill saved.

The ball rebounded back to Dindane but this time his own team-mate, Younes Kaboul, got in the way of his follow-up effort.

Portsmouth kept up the pressure as Yebda slid in to reach Kevin-Prince Boateng's cross but Myhill clawed the ball away.

The frustration among Hull's support was evident when Hunt was replaced by Richard Garcia after 74 minutes, the majority clearly unhappy at the removal of the Irishman.

Nick Barmby, who also came off the bench, had a chance late on but James easily claimed his header.

Myhill presented Pompey with a late opportunity after losing the ball and then tripping Boateng outside the area but O'Hara put his free-kick over.

Teams:

Hull Myhill, McShane, Gardner, Zayatte, Dawson, Mendy (Barmby 71), Marney (Ghilas 89), Olofinjana, Hunt (Garcia 74), Geovanni, Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Subs Not Used: Duke, Kilbane, Mouyokolo, Atkinson.

Booked: Marney, Myhill.

Portsmouth James, Finnan, Wilson, Kaboul, Ben-Haim, Yebda, Boateng, O'Hara, Mokoena, Smith (Piquionne 65), Dindane.

Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Mullins, Vanden Borre, Webber, Kanu,

Belhadj.

Booked: Mokoena.

Att: 23,720

Ref: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).