Pompey came through a tough test before a Madejski Stadium-record crowd unscathed and showed their steely side in defying an in-form Reading side who had won their previous six games, without conceding a goal.

Manager Harry Redknapp admitted: "In all honesty, I would have taken a point beforehand. It's never a bad result to get a point away and I knew it would be tough here."

He added: "I can see why they have gone seven games now without conceding a goal. Both defences were on top, although we had a lot of possession ourselves without really hurting them.

"We didn't look strong enough up front to take the points today. But our back four were excellent backed up by a good goalkeeper.

"But I have only got two forwards available - Todorov and Burchill - and Toddy is on the verge of a suspension. I am really short of options up front.

"We have made a bid for Deon Burton from Derby, which has been turned down, although I am hopeful that we can still do a deal. As for Tottenham's Les Ferdinand the whole deal is just too expensive.

"We are really short of players through injury. Merson had not trained all week and had to have an injection in his foot to enable him to play."

No-one played a bigger part in earning this vital point than keeper Shaka Hislop (pictured) who had been laid low in the days before with a severe bout of flu, but climbed off his sick-bed to thwart his former club.

Redknapp said: "Shaka did very well to play after being poorly all week. He has been important to us and had another good game today."

Another former Royal, Linvoy Primus, also paid tribute to the tall Trindadian, saying: "Shaka has done well for us this season and was outstanding again.

"He certainly kept us in the game. We have done well on our travels this season but this was still a good result for us, given that they had previously won six on the bounce."

Former Pompey player and now Royals assistant aanager Kevin Dillon said: "Probably on chances we shaded it, but all credit to Portsmouth, because they defended really well."

Pompey were never at their best, with Merson and Quashie pushed too deep, and for once showed none of their normal attacking flair, which made it a tense afternoon for their 4,000 followers in a sell-out crowd.

In a scrappy dour encounter, largely played out in a packed midfield, the Royals scorned the handful of chances that a resolute Pompey defence, founded on the resolute De Zeeuw and Foxe, allowed them. Behind those two there was the reassurance of Hislop's safe handling and alertness.

The lively and inventive Nicky Forster, the best player on the park, troubled Pompey throughout and he had the Royals' best chance three minutes from time. From De Zeeuw's only mistake , Forster was put in on goal but his hurried shot flew way over, to sum up a frustrating, uninspiring afternoon for both sides.

POMPEY: Hislop, Primus, De Zeeuw, Foxe, Ritchie, Taylor, Robinson, Quashie, Merson, Todorov, Burchill (Harper).