Pompey collected a League One point after playing out an entertaining goalless draw at Exeter on Boxing Day.

Both sides had chances to walk away with a maximum haul in Devon, although it was the visitors who arguably created the better ones.

Denver Hume struck the crossbar, while Grecians stopper Jamal Blackman – who was named man-of-the-match – made some fine saves to ensure a clean sheet.

Danny Cowley made three changes from the side that were beaten by MK Dons on home soil before Christmas.

Joe Pigott was handed a first league start in just over two months, while there were also returns for Sean Raggett and Ryan Tunnicliffe.

Connor Ogilvie and Josh Koroma dropped to the bench, but Jay Mingi missed out through illness, along with Dane Scarlett.

After a slow start it was the home side who had the first chance, with Harry Kite’s fierce strike beaten away by Josh Griffiths.

But the Blues soon began to move through the gears and looked the more likely side to break the deadlock in the first half.

Hume’s dangerous pass into the mixer had to be cleared behind and the resulting corner from Clark Robertson was glanced past the post by Michael Morrison.

A long throw from Marlon Pack was then spilled by Blackman, with the keeper having to leap on the loose ball.

But the keeper’s clearance was deflected straight into the path of Hume and his placed effort came back off the crossbar.

Blackman made up for his error just moments later, though, getting down to his right to keep out Tunnicliffe’s low drive.

The chances kept coming and a Robertson corner was nodded back by Colby Bishop, with Owen Dale’s shot bouncing down into the turf and being deflected over.

Griffiths was not being overly troubled at the other end and a Jay Stansfield attempt was blocked by Morrison, while Matt Jay’s free-kick flew off target.

Most of the action was taking place in the Grecians half and it took a fine sliding challenge inside the area from Archie Collins to stop Tunnicliffe getting a shot away.

Pompey finished the half with a flourish, winning a series of corners that Exeter were struggling to cope with.

It looked like Morrison was going to convert one of the deliveries from Pack, but Blackman made another fine save to deny the defender.

And when another flag-kick was only partially cleared, Pack’s long-range effort was bent not too far over the bar.

Half Time: Exeter 0 Pompey 0

The visitors were almost caught cold straight after the restart, as a drifting Jack Sparkes cross was kept out by Griffiths.

But the action soon switched to the other end of the pitch, with Dale and Reeco Hackett both seeing shots blocked in quick succession.

And Pompey did have the ball in the back of the net moments later, as Pack’s long throw was cleared as far as Dale, who lashed a shot home.

Referee Alan Young immediately blew his whistle, however, deciding that Kite had been impeded by Morrison.

The hosts might have rubbed salt into the wound, but Griffiths did well to prevent Jay from turning home a teasing Sparkes delivery from the left.

It was then Blackman’s chance to make a fine save, getting down to his left after Hackett had done well to dig out a shot on the edge of the box.

The Pompey fans and bench were growing frustrated by some strange decisions by referee Alan Young, including ignoring a blatant foul on Pigott in the middle of the pitch.

Cowley made an attacking switch with 15 minutes of the contest remaining, as Koroma was brought on for Hume.

It was Exeter who were next to threaten, though, and Griffiths kept his composure to keep out Jay’s shot.

Hackett then fired a difficult chance narrowly over after Blackman had flapped at a free-kick from Pack.

Cowley responded with a treble substitution, with Zak Swanson, Joe Morrell and Michael Jacobs on for Dale, Tunnicliffe and Pigott.

But despite some dangerous balls being swung into the Grecians box, the Blues were unable to force a winner.

Exeter (3-4-1-2): Blackman; Sweeney, Diabate, Hartridge; Caprice, Kite, Collins, Sparkes; Jay (c) (Dieng 88); Brown, Stansfield (Nombe 64)
Booked: Stansfield, Sparkes, Collins
Subs not used: Lee, Grounds, James, Harper, Beardmore

Pompey (3-4-1-2): Griffiths; Morrison, Raggett, Robertson (c); Dale (Swanson 80), Tunnicliffe (Morrell 80), Pack, Hume (Koroma 75); Hackett; Bishop, Pigott (Jacobs 80)
Booked: Dale, Morrison, Morrell
Subs not used: Oluwayemi, Ogilvie, Curtis

Referee: Alan Young

Attendance: 7,779 (1,143 Pompey fans)