Dundalk stopped the rot against Waterford but their wait for a first win of the campaign goes on as goalkeeper Sam Sargeant shone at Oriel Park.
The Lilywhites came into the game on the back of three straight defeats which has piled the pressure on head coach Stephen O'Donnell.
While this was their best performance since claiming a point away to Shamrock Rovers on the opening night, they were unable to find a way past the inspired Sargeant.
The former Leyton Orient keeper pulled off numerous fine saves throughout to ensure a valuable point for Keith Long’s side.
After humbling defeats against Galway Utd and Sligo Rovers in their two previous home matches, this was at least a step in the right direction for the Louth men but will it be enough to ease calls for O’Donnell to go?
The last time they started a season with just two points from their opening five matches was in 2021 when Italian coach Filippo Giovagnoli departed afterwards.
This stalemate means they have now gone 449 minutes without a goal.
The home side started on top with Sargeant twice called into action inside the opening seven minutes to make saves from Robbie Benson and Ciaran McGuckin before Sam Durrant fired just wide shortly after.
Waterford were almost ahead with their first attempt on 23 minutes. Connor Parsons played a superb ball in from the left which Padraig Amond met with a diving header but goalkeeper Ross Munro denied him the breakthrough with a smart save with his feet.
Dundalk then threatened again on 35 minutes. Hayden Muller slipped Durrant in on the left with his shot pushed away by Sargeant before the follow up from Benson was headed clear by Kacper Radkowski.
The Louth side then had assistant Patrick Cregg sent-off following an altercation with Ryan Burke a minute later but they were almost celebrating on 38 minutes when Durrant cut in from the left onto his right foot only to see his curling effort flash agonisingly wide of the post.
The Blues then had another good chance of their own three minutes before the break when Barry Baggley did well to get away from Zak Johnson only for a heavy touch to allow Munro the chance to make a good save at close range.
Archie Davies then fired wide with efforts either side of half-time for the hosts with a scuffed effort from Durrant just after the hour mark the next attempt at goal for either side.
Muller then had an effort blocked by the head of Radkowski on 73 minutes before Sargeant came to his side’s rescue again five minutes later with a big save to deny Cameron Elliott after the substitute had burst into the box from Daryl Horgan’s lay off.
Maleace Asamoah then went close to a breakthrough for Waterford when he cut in off the right onto his left foot in the 82nd minute only to fire just wide before Ryan O’Kane had another effort pushed away by Sargeant five minutes later.
Dundalk thought they had a penalty four minutes from time when Elliott went down in the box but referee Tom O’Sullivan instead booked him for diving, much to the frustration of the home support.
Dundalk: Ross Munro; Archie Davies, Zak Johnson, Louie Annesley, Hayden Muller; Zak Bradshaw, Scott High; Ciaran McGuckin (Ryan O’Kane 67), Robbie Benson (Daryl Horgan 67), Sam Durrant (Robbie Mahon 76); Jamie Gullan (Cameron Elliott 67).
Waterford: Sam Sargeant; Grant Horton, Kacper Radkowski, Robbie McCourt, Ryan Burke; Harvey MacAdam (Romeo Akachukwu 73), Rowan McDonald; Maleace Asamoah (Connor Evans 82), Barry Baggley (Niall O’Keeffe 75), Connor Parsons; Padraig Amond.
Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan (Cork).
