Serie A: Parma halt losing run with 0-0 draw at home to Cagliari

Bottom side Parma halted a four-match losing streak with a goalless draw at home to fellow strugglers Cagliari on Sunday afternoon.

In a game played at a slow tempo, the visitors were the better side but could not find a way past Parma goalkeeper Antonio Mirante, who made three saves to earn his team a valuable point at the Ennio Tardini stadium.

The hosts went into the match eight points adrift of safety and looking for their first victory since November 1.

To make matters worse, Parma were also deducted one point by the Italian Football Federation this week for failing to pay player wages dating back to November 2013.

To have any success, Parma needed to improve drastically in attack after scoring just two goals in their previous four games.

However, Roberto Donadoni's side failed to manage a single shot on target during the 90 minutes.

The visitors, 18th in the table and without a win in their previous six league games, squandered a golden chance to go in front in the 23rd minute when Cagliari striker Diego Farias rounded Parma goalkeeper Antonio Mirante but his weak shot was cleared off the goal-line by Jose Mauri.

In the 38th minute, Danilo Avelar's low cross-shot was saved by Mirante.

Parma could have gone into the break with a 1-0 advantage but Raffaele Palladino headed Antonio Cassano's cross just over the bar.

Both sides struggled to put a good move together early in the second half and it was not until the 88th minute that Mirante was called into action again.

Cagliari substitute Caio drilled in a 30-yard attempt that forced Mirante into a full-stretch save.

With seconds remaining, Mirante kept out Antonio Balzano's right-footed attempt from just outside the box as his team held on for a share of the spoils.