Neither side were able force a breakthrough in the opening 45 minutes of the Capital One Cup fourth-round match between Southampton and Aston Villa at St Mary's Stadium.
Villa put the home side under pressure in the early stages and Ashley Westwood lifted a dangerous ball into the box from the right, but Rudy Gestede could only put his header wide of the post.
The visitors came close again as Alan Hutton almost turned provider when his cross into the box found the run of Gestede, who could only guide his close-range header wide.
Southampton worked the ball well down the right as Steven Caulker sent a ball down the flank for Maya Yoshida, who lifted a cross into the penalty area. Graziano Pelle controlled the cross and fired a volley at the net, only to see his effort travel wide.
Kevin MacDonald's men pressed forward and Leandro Bacuna tested the handling ability of Maarten Stekelenburg with a powerful strike from the edge of the box, but the Dutchman was equal to the effort.
Simon Sinclair
