Norwich City are still searching for their first win of the campaign after a disappointing encounter against an Aston Villa side unable to reproduce their impressive home form on the road.
The Canaries continued with the diamond midfield formation and, although it was largely unproductive in the first half, it produced good chances in the second. The visitors produced a competent if uninspiring display, but were worthy of a point.
Norwich kicked off attacking the Barclay End goal, but were soon on the defensive when Gareth Barry's cross was driven goalwards by Nolberto Solano.
The shot was blocked for a corner, but when the flag-kick came over Craig Fleming was injured making the headed clearance. The home fans were upset that referee Barry Knight stopped play with Darren Huckerby in possession and threatening to race clear of the Villa defence.
In the fifth minute Huckerby put Gary Holt through but his shot sailed harmlessly over the crossbar, while Darius Vassell fired wide at the other end two minutes later.
In the 12th minute Carlton Cole saw his header fly inches wide of the goal, with the diving Robert Green beaten.
David Bentley's chip then landed on top of the net after 22 minutes before play was held up again for treatment to Marc Edworthy.
Huckerby, a constant threat to the visitors, then dribbled his way into the Villa penalty area but failed to find a colleague with his forward pass, before Gary Doherty miscued a header from Bentley's cross.
Villa had plenty of chances of their own and Vassell headed wide from a Jlloyd Samuel cross, before Green beat away a fierce drive from Thomas Hitzlsperger.
Bentley squandered two good chances, firing first wide and then over Thomas Sorensen's goal as half-time approach, but the Canaries had Green to thank for being on level terms at the interval.
The in-form keeper bravely saved at the feet of Cole while his defenders appealed in vain for an offside flag.
During the interval the Canaries were awarded an honorary degree from the University of East Anglia and started the second half in more determined fashion, though that may have been due more to Nigel Worthington's team talk rather than the doctorate of Civil Law.
The ever dangerous Huckerby beat two players on the edge of the Villa penalty area, but Mark Delaney got in a vital tackle to deny the Norwich striker a shooting chance.
Cole fired wide after a surging run by Hitzlsperger as the game opened up while Bentley twice did likewise at the other end.
Delaney was booked for an uncompromising challenge on Huckerby before both Damien Francis and Bentley went close with fierce long-range shots.
Doherty then headed tamely at Sorensen, before, in the 74th minute, the Danish keeper finally had to make a proper save from Doherty, after the former Spurs man got in a full blooded shot.
Huckerby had a penalty appeal waved away before Gareth McCann was only inches away from giving the visitors the points with a header from Olof Mellberg's left wing cross.
With time running out, Villa substitute Steve Davis brought a good reflex save from England hopeful Green when he fired in a rasping angled shot.
In the last minute of normal time Mattias Jonson came on for Doherty but failed to trouble the Villa defence with a right wing cross which cleared everyone in the penalty area before drifting out for a goal kick.
This was a reflection on the quality of the passing and shooting throughout the goalless draw.
Man of the Match: Robert Green - The Norwich keeper did his England chances no harm with another impressive display to earn his side a point.