Dundee United and Hibernian fought out a wretched goalless draw at Tannadice that does neither side any favours.
Hibs midfielder Guillaume Beuzelin hit the crossbar with an early strike and United's Craig Conway failed to touch home a gilt-edged chance.
Simon Brown, given a rare start for Hibs, made a smart save to keep out a Noel Hunt shot in the second half.
And the visiting goalkeeper had to push away a dangerous long-range free-kick from United captain Barry Robson.
It was a game Hibs needed to win to keep in touch with the race at the top of the table but too many of their players simply didn't look interested.
United were a little livelier but lacked the quality to take advantage of an off-day from the visitors.
Hibs created a wonderful opening inside the fourth minute when Abdessalam Benjelloun threaded a pass through to Beuzelin but, with the ball bobbling on the badly rutted pitch, the midfielder's shot clipped the crossbar.
The atrocious condition of the playing surface was making life difficult for both sides, with several passes going astray and players struggling to run with the ball.
Hibs left-back David Murphy fired in a powerful shot from 20 yards that was headed away by defender Lee Wilkie.
And United striker Hunt tried his luck with an acrobatic overhead kick that flew a couple of yards wide.
The Hibs defence appeared intent on gifting the ball to United as often as they could but the home side failed to take advantage.
A woeful first half came to a close with a stretching Conway somehow failing to stab home an angled Robson drive that drifted just inches wide of the post.
A training ground injury denied Hibs the services of Andrew McNeil, so Brown started his first match since August.
The big goalkeeper flapped at a looping cross early in the second half, but Collin Samuel slashed the loose ball wide of the gaping goal.
Steven Whittaker tried an audacious shot from wide on the right flank and United keeper Derek Stillie was given a fright as it dipped on to the roof of the net.
On 75 minutes, Robson brushed off challenges from Scott Brown and Shelton Martis but his shot from 20 yards skewed wide.
Brown then had to make the first save of the day when he got down smartly to palm away a 12-yard dig from Hunt.
The visiting keeper was then at full stretch to get a hand to Robson's curling long-range free-kick.
The full-time whistle followed soon after to mercifully bring a dismal day's play to an end.
Dundee United: Stillie, Dillon, McCracken, Wilkie, Kalvenes, Robertson, Kerr, Robson, Samuel, Hunt (Gomis 89), Conway (Daly 78). Subs Not Used: McLean, Mair, Duff, Goodwillie, Watson.
Booked: Robson.
Hibernian: Simon Brown, Hogg, Martis, Jones, Murphy (Stewart 61), Whittaker, Scott Brown, Beuzelin, Stevenson, Fletcher (Sowunmi 78), Benjelloun. Subs Not Used: Grof, McCann, Lynch, Campbell, Chisholm.
Booked: Benjelloun, Stewart.
Att: 6,453
Ref: K Clarke