Brighton ground out a 0-0 draw at Wolves to edge a point further clear of Cardiff City in the battle to avoid the drop from the Premier League.
Chris Hughton's side came through a second-half bombardment at Molineux to hang on for a point and put an end to a run of four straight defeats.
But it was Brighton's fifth game in a row without scoring a goal and that lack of firepower means they remain firmly entrenched in the relegation dogfight.
The 0-0 stalemate with Wolves takes Brighton onto 34 points, with the 18th-placed Bluebirds on 31 ahead of their huge showdown with title-chasing Liverpool in the Welsh capital on Sunday.
Brighton's goal difference of minus-21 is much superior to Cardiff's minus-33, meaning the Bluebirds need a minimum of a win and a draw from their remaining four games to have any chance of overhauling the Seagulls.
Brighton have four games left, away to Tottenham this week followed by clashes with Newcastle (h), Arsenal (a) and Manchester City (h).
After Liverpool at Cardiff City Stadium the Bluebirds tangle with Fulham (a), Crystal Palace (h) and Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Fulham have suddenly hit a bit of form, following their surprise win over Everton with a 1-0 triumph at Bournemouth.
Although it seems a straight shootout between Cardiff and Brighton for who joins Fulham and Huddersfield in the Championship, Southampton and Newcastle are not yet totally out of trouble.
At the time of writing Southampton are on 36 points and Newcastle 38, the two teams playing one another in the tea-time kick-off.
The fans of the clubs will still be keeping a wary eye on results in the run-in, in case Cardiff and Brighton suddenly soar up the table.
Cardiff City's run-in (31 points)
April 27: Fulham (A)
May 4: Crystal Palace (H)
May 12: Man Utd (A)
Brighton's run-in (34 points)
April 27: Newcastle (H)
May 4: Arsenal (A)
May 12: Man City (H)
Southampton's run-in (37 points)
April 27: Bournemouth (H)
May 4: West Ham (A)
May 12: Huddersfield (H)
Newcastle's run-in (38 points)
April 20: Southampton (H)
April 27: Brighton (A)
May 5: Liverpool (H)
May 12: Fulham (A)
