It was honours even at Hillsborough as both sides collected another valuable point in their bid to keep clear of the dreaded First Division relegation zone.

Peter Shreeves Sheffield Wednesday carved out the best chances but a well-organised Portsmouth defence was able to hold out as the hosts looked to record a third successive home win.

Graham Rix's men, fresh from a 2-0 victory against Burnley on Saturday, were first to threaten with Greek midfielder Mike Panopoulos cutting in from the left and firing a powerful right-foot shot inches wide after just three minutes.

There was drama six minutes later as Wednesday were awarded a free-kick just six yards from goal.

Andy Booth, back in the Wednesday side following his loan spell with Tottenham, headed the ball towards Efan Ekoku only to see Pompey defender Scott Hiley get to the loose ball first.

He nudged the ball back towards goalkeeper Aaron Flahavan, who then picked it up only to see referee Chris Foy award a free-kick as he deemed it to be a backpass.

Flahavan was booked for dissent in the ensuing chaos and when the free-kick was finally taken Gerald Sibon's thumping effort from Trond Soltvedt's lay-off was brilliantly parried to safety by the alert keeper.

Despite the wholehearted commitment being shown by both sides quality was distinctly lacking with neither able to get a grip on the game.

Portsmouth were forced into a change after 28 minutes with Steve Lovell replacing Thomas Thorgersen, who appeared to injure his knee in a collision with Ekoku.

The substitute almost opened the scoring after 39 minutes when he ran at a static Wednesday defence with pace only to drill a left-foot shot over the crossbar from just inside the area.

At the other end Sibon's curling free-kick was deflected over by Hiley and from the resulting corner Ashley Westwood somehow failed to find the target with a right-foot shot from six yards out.

Wednesday began the second half brightly but Booth's left-foot shot, after good work from Alan Quinn and Soltvedt, was comfortably gathered by Flahavan after 48 minutes.

The Owls, who have won three of their last four league games, continued to surge forward and Leigh Bromby's header from a Sibon corner crept just wide.

Seconds later no-one was able to get the finishing touch to Quinn's delicious centre from the byline and at the other end Lee Mills burst clear of the home defence but his low right-foot shot was turned behind by the athletic Kevin Pressman.

Portsmouth were forced to make a second change just after the hour when skipper Darren Moore was stretchered from the field following an aerial collision and was replaced by Dave Waterman.

Wednesday went within a whisker of breaking the deadlock after 68 minutes when Booth's towering header from an Ian Hendon cross was scrambled behind by Flahavan.

Portsmouth, who have won only once away from home all season, continued to defend resolutely and Flahavan was barely tested by Booth's weak header with just 12 minutes remaining.

The visitors almost snatched the lead seconds later with Jason Crowe surging forward from defence before jinking past Des Walker and hammering in a right-foot shot that Pressman did well to push over the crossbar.

Substitute Michele di Piedi, who scored in the 2-1 win against Gillingham on Saturday, had the last chance for the hosts but he drove his right-foot shot wide from 16 yards in injury time.