Stoke City wasted a great chance to improve their survival hopes as they were held to a goalless draw by mid-table Gillingham at the Britannia Stadium.
Although Stoke are now unbeaten in five games, a chronic lack of goals looks like ensuring they make an immediate return to division two.
To add to Tony Pulis' woes, on-loan striker Ade Akinbiyi limped off injured early in the second half.
The former Leicester City striker may be forced out of Wednesday's crucial clash with Rotherham because of a hamstring injury.
Akinbiyi had looked to be Stoke's chief threat as the hosts started well.
He set up Chris Iwelumo inside the first minute but the young Stoke striker miscued his effort and the chance was wasted.
In the 20th minute Akinbiyi set up Iwelumo again but the chance was lost as the shot was blazed over from eight yards.
At the other end Mark Crossley was forced to tip over Nicky Southall's header while the Stoke keeper also had to be alert to saved from Paul Shaw.
Southall missed two more chances before the break as the Gills ended the half well.
In the second half Stoke continued to create the better chances and Brynjar Gunnarsson went closest to breaking the deadlock in the 67th minute when his 25-yard shot beat Vince Bartram only to skim the outside of the post.
Substitute Lee Mills then saw a late shot blocked after good play by Peter Hoekstra.
However, Gillingham almost snatched a last-gasp winner as Nayron Nosworthy fired over the bar when well-placed before Shaw sent a dipping volley just wide.