A point will have done neither Bolton Wanderers nor Fulham any good at all in their bid to beat the dreaded Premier League drop.
And on the evidence of this drab goalless draw at the Reebok Stadium, both will be struggling to avoid it come May.
The hosts, beginning the day in 15th spot and only one point above the bottom three, had more possession and looked by far the more likely as the game wore on.
But Fulham, rooted firmly inside the bottom three, had their chances through first half long range efforts from debutant midfielder Leon Andraesen and Jimmy Bullard.
Dane Andreasen saw his 14th minute 25-yard effort whistle just over, before Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen parried Bullard's low drive, from similar distance, just four minutes later.
These were the first two efforts of the game, but Bolton's Icelandic defender Gretar Steinsson went even closer with an acrobatic volley that skimmed the bar in the 20th minute.
Full-back Steinsson was by the game's best player, demonstrating power and pace with surges down the right wing.
And he should have been rewarded for another fine run and low cross ten minutes into the second period, but Matt Taylor failed to latch on to Kevin Nolan's near-post flick-on.
Cottagers' skipper Aaron Hughes tamely headed into Jaaskelainen's arms in a rare foray forward for the Londoners in the second half.
And Lubomir Michalik wasted Bolton's golden chance to claim all three points in the 71st minute when his looping volley hit the post, after Antti Niemi had failed to get distance on a punch from Andranik's left-wing free-kick.
That proved to be the last clear chance, as the game petered out to a stalemate that will have suited neither manager.