Bristol City kept it tight at the back in 120 minutes of football against Portsmouth but struggled to create chances of their own with the two sides battling out a hard-fought 0-0 draw at the High Performance Centre.
It was another good workout for the Robins in the build-up to the new season with the extra minutes providing the opportunity for youngsters and fringe players to get first-team experience under their belts.
It wasn't a classic, certainly a different game to the 3-3 draw the two sides served up 12 months ago but City will feel they should have come out on top having missed the best chances of the game. The best, perhaps, fell to Duncan Idehen with the central defender hitting the woodwork from close range as the ball found his feet from a corner.
Andi Weimann and Nahki Wells also had glimpses at goal but couldn't convert their chances with Chris Martin out of the squad with his partner giving birth to their child last night. Cam Pring also missed out with a minor knee injury.
Tommy Conway had a late chance cleared off the line while Sam Bell also could have won it but he delayed a second too long with his strike giving time for the defender to get across and make the block.
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In truth, chances were few and far between for both teams and City will look to improve their cutting edge in front of goal with five more matches to play before the new season.
Here are the standout players from the 0-0 draw as the Robins now look to their game at Plymouth on Saturday.
James Taylor
He was the surprise name on the team-sheet when the line-ups were announced and the defender was deployed in a left-wing back position with Jay Dasilva coming to the bench and Cam Pring out of the squad, presumably injured.
Taylor, 20, was handed his chance to impress and he grabbed his opportunity as he grew in confidence as the contest went on. With much of City's play coming down the right in the early stages through Kane Wilson, Taylor took his time to get himself on the ball, particularly as the Reds moved the ball forwards.
He soon became more influential as he hugged the left touchline offering width for the likes of Andi Weimann to pick out when the striker dropped deep to collect the ball. On 25 minutes he showed his class when he received the ball with his back to goal, spinning the defender and turning away to carry the ball forward.
He wasn't shy in the tackle and despite being a pre-season friendly, was eager to impress by throwing himself into challenges. Defensively he didn't look out of place, making a well-timed block 10 minutes before the half-time whistle to stop the cross from the right.
Taylor almost got an assist to his name, when he headed a deep cross into Weimann's path but the Austrian blazed the ball over the crossbar on the volley. He showed his quality from out wide in the second half when he cut back onto his right foot to whip in a dangerous cross into Wells' path but the forward couldn't steer his header on target.
After 70 minutes, Taylor's afternoon was over as he was replaced by Dasilva but he can rest assured that he would have given the manager and coaching staff food for thought going forward.
Mark Sykes
It was interesting to hear his comments on the back of last week's victory over Cheltenham following his 60-minute cameo in which he talked about the difficulties in adapting to the No10 role.
He specifically spoke about learning how he could influence the play and the positions he needs to find on the pitch to get himself on the ball. Last week, there were lengthy periods of play where he struggled to stamp his authority on the contest.
This time around, he was a lot more active going forward particularly linking up with Kane Wilson out on the right. Sykes drifted a lot to that side to collect the ball and when he did, he was positive by driving at the Pompey defence.
Sykes is quick across the ground and his link-up play with Wilson caused Pompey trouble at times during that side as they created the overlap in order to find space to whip in crosses. On 23 minutes, he flashed a dangerous ball across goal that was cleared well.
City's attackers were happy to sit back and let Pompey pass the ball in defence but when that ball went forward, they sprung into life quickly closing down their opponents to pick up the ball and maintain the pressure in the second and third phases. Sykes was key to that, showing terrific energy at times to close down his men and limit that freedom in Pompey's midfield.
His second half continued similarly to the first, in the right place to retrieve the ball on numerous occasions, something he has obviously worked on over the last week which is particularly encouraging. During the second half, he showed his attacking qualities by playing an excellent through ball into Weimann's path who had made the move into the area.
The Pompey keeper read the danger and closed the space well to deny the Austrian with chances to break the deadlock few and far between. He could and probably should have opened the scoring himself when he found space in the box but he lacked composure when his turn and shot went harmlessly over the crossbar.
Matty James
That central midfield position is a particularly interesting one heading into the new season. Joe Williams and James were a favoured partnership for Pearson when fit for last season, and they have started both pre-season matches together in the middle of the park.
But with Alex Scott to return from his break after England's Under-19 Euros triumph, a central midfielder on the transfer wishlist and the potential that Han-Noah Massengo could still remain for another campaign, there's still a lot of uncertainty as to who will fill those two places in front of the defence.
James and Williams both made a statement this afternoon -, particularly the former who was a calming presence in the middle of the park. Smart in possession when he had the ball and reliable in the tackle to keep the Portsmouth attack relatively quiet.
What is notable in the opening two games with James' game, is he appears to have been given more of an influence playing the ball forward. Kal Naismith's position as the deepest of the midfielders allows more space for both Williams and James to play the ball forward.
Williams will drop deep to pick up the pass, leaving James to roam further forwards to receive a pass and help the transition between defence and attack. What's more, with 90 minutes under his belt James looked fit having missed chunks of last season with injury.
He's not the most fashionable of midfielders, you'd have to rub your eyes and do a double-take if he burst past two or three men towards the opposition goal but would he did do, he did well and Pearson would have appreciated his performance.
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