Chievo and Sampdoria canceled each other out at the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi, where a draw was perhaps a fair result but does neither side any favors.
Giampaolo Pazzini fired the visitors ahead in spectacular fashion in the 70th minute but their lead lasted less than two minutes before Luca Rigoni restored parity for the hosts.
That brief flurry of excitement was the only bright point in an otherwise poor and uneventful game.
Chievo remain second from bottom - despite not having lost in 2009 - and are now four points off safety, while Samp sit just five points above them in 15th.
The Blucerchiati started the match full of confidence, having ended a three-match losing streak and averted talk of a crisis with a 3-1 home win over Lazio in midweek.
They were eager to build on that result and should have taken the lead in the 14th minute.
Mirko Pieri's cross was deflected into the path of a well-placed Antonio Cassano but he woefully blasted it wide.
Samp went even closer on the half-hour mark as Marius Stankevicius' effort from just outside the area hit the outside of the post.
Chievo had their best chance of the half three minutes later as Andrea Mantovani latched onto Vincenzo Italiano's free-kick but his effort flew over the bar.
Chances were few and far between in a dull match and there was little for either set of fans to cheer about.
However, Samp were starting to look more dangerous as the first half drew to a close.
The visitors could have taken the lead four minutes before the break as Chievo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino was forced into a good save to tip round Angelo Palombo's free-kick.
They went close again seconds later as Cassano beat four opponents but could not make his hard work pay off as he crossed into the side-netting.
Samp had edged the first half and they were keen to make their dominance tell.
They came close to carving out a good opportunity 10 minutes after the restart as Pazzini turned well after he received the ball from Cassano but found his effort blocked by Mario Yepes.
They were almost made to rue their missed opportunities as goalkeeper Luca Castellazzi had to pull off a great save to keep out a long-distance rocket from Italiano on the hour mark.
The game sparked briefly into life in the 70th minute when Samp took the lead.
Pazzini controlled the ball just outside the area before unleashing an unstoppable volley past Sorrentino who was rooted to the spot as he watched it fly past him.
Chievo respond almost immediately and two minutes later Rigoni nodded home a corner for the equalizer.
The hosts almost snatched a winner five minutes from time as Moura Kerlon rounded off a great individual move with a 30-yard shot which tested Castellazzi.
There were to be four nerve-wracking minutes of stoppage time, but neither side could produce a winner and in the end both had to settle for a point.
