Melbourne Heart have failed to break down a miserly Gold Coast United in a 0-0 draw at AAMI Park as the visitors extended their unbeaten streak to seven.
The home side, missing first choice attacking trio Gerald Sibon, John Aloisi and Alex Terra, dominated for much of the game and created most of the chances, but could not find a way to break the deadlock.
Eli Babalj, Rutger Worm and Nick Kalmar all had excellent chances to give their side a much-needed boost up the table, but missed their chance to enter the top four.
Heart, now unbeaten in three matches, progress to 13 points from their opening 11 games and move ahead of Wellington Phoenix into sixth place. They now face the Newcastle Jets at EnergyAustralia Stadium next Sunday.
Gold Coast offered very little in attack, failed to create a single corner for the match, had one shot on target and mustered just 43 per cent of possession.
However they got the job done in defence, led by Dino Djulbic, to preserve their unbeaten away record this season and keep inside the top four. They will take their seven-match unbeaten streak to North Queensland next Sunday in the second of their three consecutive away matches.
Melbourne Heart 0
Gold Coast United 0
Crowd: 6150 at AAMI Stadium