Dundee United and Motherwell had to be content with a share of the spoils after a 0-0 William Hill Premiership draw at Tannadice.
Chances were few and far between in a game that was constantly interrupted by a succession of niggly fouls.
The result means the Steelmen are unbeaten in nine league games while United have now not won in seven matches.
The hosts made three changes to the team that lost 2-0 to St Mirren in Paisley last week with Bert Esselink, Amar Fatah and Max Watters recalled in place of the suspended Krisztian Keresztes, Vicko Sevelj and Nikolaj Moller.
Motherwell made three alterations to the side that beat Livingston last week with Stephen Welsh, Callum Slattery and Callum Hendry coming back in with Liam Gordon, Regan Charles-Cook and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos dropping to the bench.
The visitors were the first to threaten in the eighth minute but Hendry’s downward header from a Slattery cross inside the United box lacked power and was easily gathered by keeper Dave Richards.
Motherwell were forced into an early change in the 18th minute with Welsh having to come off after a clash of heads with team-mate Elliott Watt and the defender having to be replaced by Gordon.
There was, though, precious little for the supporters of both sides to get excited about in what was a tepid opening to the contest.
Indeed, as the half-hour mark approached, neither Richards or his opposite number Calum Ward had been seriously tested.
Just before the break, Watt hit a speculative shot from distance which flew well over, then Ward was finally called into action when Sapsford cut in from the right and hit a low shot from 20 yards but the keeper comfortably dealt with the danger.
Tawanda Maswanhise also had a chance of his own in stoppage time but his strike from the edge of the home box flew straight into Richards’ arms and the teams headed down the tunnel with the game deadlocked.
Fatah then embarked on a barnstorming run to the edge of the visitors’ box but his fierce low shot flew just inches past Ward’s left-hand post.
The Steelmen were struggling to make an impact in front of goal but they had a chance in the 60th minute but Elijah Just’s shot from 18 yards hit a defender and flew over for a corner.
Shortly after, Slattery manufactured space for himself just outside the home box but his low shot flew past Richards’ right-hand post.
United midfielder Craig Sibbald finally gave the home fans something to shout about when he tried an audacious lob from inside his own half after spotting Ward off his line but his attempt was just slightly off target to the relief of the goalkeeper.
In the 82nd minute, Motherwell sub Ibrahim Said teed up Slattery with a cutback but the midfielder’s shot flew over the bar.
