East Fife boss Gary Naysmith admitted that the stakes were so high for his side and Airdrie on Saturday that both let nerves get the better of them.
The Methil side sat four points above the second-bottom visitors ahead of the crucial relegation six-pointer.
But neither was able to break the deadlock in a game that both seemed more concerned about losing than going out to win.
Bayview boss Naysmith said: “If I was to sum the game up then I’d say that it was a nervy one.
“You could sense the crowd were nervous and I think the players were as well because we wanted to keep that four point cushion over Airdrie.
“It was a big one for them too because they wouldn’t want the gap to get any bigger so I can understand the nervousness. It’s not one I’ll be watching the highlights of.
“But you get games like that and I said to the players that if it isn’t going to be our day then make sure it’s not your opponents’ day either and they did that.”
Kevin Smith should have put East Fife a goal up early on when he was picked out in the box by a Craig Johnstone cross.
But the striker failed to test Grant Adam and nodded past the post.
David Cowan crashed an effort well wide of goal during the first 45 minutes when chances were at a premium.
East Fife keeper Greg Paterson kept the scores level when he saved from a Caolan McAleer drive before Jamie Bain was unlucky not to open the scoring when his looping header bounced back off the top of the bar.
Liam Buchanan then hit a shot straight at Adam in the closing stages.