Portsmouth and Chelsea are tied 0-0 at half time in the Premier League match at Fratton Park.

Chelsea started brightly and in the very 9th minute, England international Joe Cole strike missed the target by inches.

Chelsea almost went ahead in the 34th minute, but unfortunately Niko Kranjcar brought a timely goalline clearnce off German internatioanl Michael Ballack`s header of an inswinging croner kick by Belletti.

Minute later, Pompey`s Noe Pamarot header off Niko Kranjcar corner kick hit the woodwork and rebounded into play.

In the closing minutes, Pompey keeper David James brilliantly thwarted Nicolas Anelka in a one to one situation, who is insearch of his first goal for Chelsea.

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp started with his deadline signing Jermain Defoe, who has moved from Tottenham Hotspur, up front along with on loan-signing from Lyon, striker Milan Baros.

Chelsea Manager Avram Grant, whose side are just four points behind leaders Manchester United started without Salomon Kalou, Michael Essien, Mikel John Obi and Didier Drogba on account of their international duty in the African Cup of Nations while skipper John Terry (fractured foot), Andriy Shevchenko (back) and Ricardo Carvalho (suspended for collecting five bookings) were all out.

Teams

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Pamarot, Hreidarsson, Davis, Diarra, Hughes, Kranjcar, Baros, Defoe.
Subs: Ashdown, Aubey, Lauren, Mvuemba, Pedro Mendes.

Chelsea: Cech, Belletti, Ben-Haim, Alex, Ashley Cole, Makelele, Wright-Phillips, Ballack, Malouda, Joe Cole, Anelka.
Subs: Cudicini, Sidwell, Pizarro, Bridge, Ferreira.