English FA Premiership/ West Ham 0 Charlton 0: Teddy Sheringham's 40th birthday party failed to go with a bang after stubborn Charlton ground out a goalless draw at West Ham.

The former England striker, who played the second 45 minutes, was denied the winner the home fans craved by a fine save late on by Charlton goalkeeper Thomas Myhre.

The two sides could meet again later in the month, in an FA Cup semi-final should Charlton overcome Middlesbrough in a replay.

West Ham's Dean Ashton fired an inviting chance over the bar from close range in the fourth minute and a right-footed effort from Anton Ferdinand hardly set the first half alight.

Sheringham was allowed to unwrap himself at half-time to replace Ashton and again West Ham started the half strongly, with Yossi Benayoun stabbing the ball just wide after making a speedy arrival in the danger zone.

Benayoun fired a snapshot on the turn across goal and just wide before Matt Holland failed to hit the target from a more inviting position at the other end.

Alan Pardew made another change with just under a quarter of an hour remaining and it was an attacking one, with striker Bobby Zamora replacing midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker.

It almost paid off as the newcomer sent a header from a corner past Myhre only to see it cleared off the line by the perfectly-placed Radostin Kishishev.

Sheringham had been given mostly scraps, but at last the chance he had been waiting for came his way - and he was unable to take it as Myhre made an impressive reflex stop to keep out a well-struck back-post connection from just five yards out.

It was that sort of game, that sort of day and not even ageing superstars could change it.