West Bromwich Albion and Southampton could not be separated at The Hawthorns as the second Championship play-off semi-final of the day finished goalless.
Just like Norwich City and Leeds United earlier, Albion and Saints cancelled each other out in a game of few chances.
And it now sets up an equally tense second leg at St Mary’s on Friday night.
Albion, who twice lost to Southampton in this season’s two league meetings, will have their work cut out if they are to make a first Championship play-off final since 2007.
Saints, looking to return to the top flight at the first attempt after relegation last season, will start as favourites – despite an injury concern over Che Adams that caused him to miss the first leg.
On a sun-kissed afternoon in the Black Country, fuelled by an outstandingly passionate atmosphere at kick-off time, Albion made a very lively start.
But it was quickly clear that, in such stifling conditions, they could not keep up that same sort of frenetic pace against a side as defensively well marshalled as Southampton.
Saints had marginally the better of the handful of first-half chances.
Right-back Kyle Walker-Peters’ low effort flashed across the face, Adam Armstrong volleyed into the side netting and Sekou Mara overhead’s kick flew just over.
But the Baggies had perhaps the best opening when Grady Diangana’s header from Tom Fellows’ cross was saved by Saints keeper Alex McCarthy.
It was a similar tale after the break, although Albion now looked the likelier of the two sides to make a breakthrough.
Alex Mowatt fired an Albion free-kick just over, before Fellows’ break down the right threatened to at last open the visitors up.
But Diangana fired his low effort straight at McCarthy, who made a scrambled save before Saints cleared their lines.
There was a minor panic when Bednarek and McCarthy, dangerously trying to play ‘keep-ball’ in their own six-yard box, went for one touch too many and almost passed Saints into disaster.
But it was already long since clear that this game would remain goalless.
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