Teenage forward Jose Mauri had a late goal chalked off for offside as frustrated AC Milan were held to a goalless draw at home to Carpi.
With Mario Balotelli and Carlos Bacca leading the way, the Rossoneri produced numerous chances in coach Cristian Brocchi's home debut, but they couldn't quite find the target as Carpi consistently positioned its entire squad behind the ball.
The 19-year-old replacement Mauri latched onto Giacomo Bonaventura's pass to bury the best chance of a low-quality encounter, only to see what would have proved his debut Milan goal ruled out.
Mauri had two more chances in his industrious cameo but could not break the deadlock, leaving Milan with just one win in their past seven matches.
Milan's 17-year-old goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, preserved the draw by leaping to tip a shot from Marco Crimi over the bar in the 90th minute.
While Milan's attempts to boost their European qualification hopes were thwarted by the draw, Carpi will have left the Italian city of industry in relatively high spirits.
The relegation battlers were able to put another point between themselves and the drop zone, sitting two points ahead of 18th-placed Frosinone with four games to play.
Information from Press Association and The Associated Press was used in this report.