West Ham deny Derby

West Ham's Frederic Kanoute (r) lasted just 53 minutes

Derby County 0-0 West Ham United

Stalemate prevailed at Pride Park as Derby County and West Ham United cancelled each other out in a scrappy game which saw referee Clive Wilkes book seven players.

Derby had their chances but West Ham goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, with some excellent saves, kept his second clean sheet of the season.

West Ham, who have yet to score in open play in their opening three matches, were hindered by the early second-half departure of Frederic Kanoute.

The French striker was making his first appearance of the season for West Ham having recovered from a hamstring injury.

We would have liked to have taken six points from our two home games but overall, looking at it, it I thought it was fair

Derby manager Jim Smith

Derby, after struggling to deal with West Ham's counter-attacking approach, imposed their authority on the game, with the creative influence of Georgi Kinkladze to the fore.

Deon Burton, starting instead of the injured Malcolm Christie, should have done better in the 20th minute.

He had a clear run on goal on the left after Kinkladze and Seth Johnson had opened up the West Ham defence.

Burton tried a first-time cross to Fabrizio Ravanelli instead and the opportunity went begging.

Kinkladze, in first-half injury time, crossed for Ravanelli, but the Italian's close-range header was saved by Hislop.

Ravanelli, moments before, spurned another golden opportunity, when he was set clear by Deon Burton's cross, but Hislop was out quickly to block the Italian's first-time shot.

Every point away from home is always a good point but we are a bit disappointed we didn't win 1-0

West Ham manager Glenn Roeder

In the opening period Kanoute almost marked his return to first-team action with a goal.

The Frenchman chased a hopeful punt forward by Rigobert Song before fooling Danny Higginbotham by feinting to cross.

The Derby defender dropped off giving Kanoute the chance to unleash a left-foot shot from a tight angle which clipped the crossbar.

Just after the restart Kanoute signalled to the bench and he was replaced by Svetoslav Todorov.

Jermaine Defoe came on for West Ham and late on almost stole the game for the visitors.

Don Hutchison, who last played for West Ham in 1996, made his second debut for the club, following his £5 million move from Sunderland.

The Scottish international had a quietly effective debut in midfield, though he was one of the those seven player who found his way into Wilkes' notebook.

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Derby: Oakes, Boertien, Riggott, Higginbotham, Mawene, Burley, Powell, Johnson, Kinkladze, Ravanelli, Burton. Subs: Grant, Daino, Murray, Valakari, Morris.

West Ham: Hislop, Winterburn, Song, Dailly, Schemmel, Sinclair, Carrick, Hutchison, Cole, Kanoute, Di Canio. Subs: Forrest, Soma, Moncur, Defoe, Todorov.

Referee: C Wilkes (Gloucester).