Cordoba's struggles were laid bare for all to see as they were held to a goalless draw at home by a Deportivo La Coruna side who played for an hour with 10 men.
Cordoba, rock bottom without a win in their opening 11 matches, missed a penalty after 15 minutes and then utterly failed to capitalise on the 29th minute dismissal of Helder Postiga in a dismal performance.
Everything seemed to go their way and yet they could not take advantage with a display of attacking futility which should leave little doubt they are clear favourites for relegation.
Deportivo were the first to threaten but Cordoba goalkeeper Juan Carlos comfortably held Rechel Sidnei's header.
At the other end, Federico Cartabia fired wide before Cordoba were handed the chance to score from the spot.
Cartabia sent in a searching cross and the referee spotted a foul by Postiga on Luso.
Postiga was booked before Cartabia stepped up but while his penalty was well struck, it was not well placed and Fabricio made the save.
Haris Medunjanin then bounced a free-kick narrowly wide for Deportivo before Postiga was narrowly off target.
But if the penalty had been an opportunity missed, what proved a more significant moment in the match came in the 29th minute when Postiga reacted to a poor challenge from Inigo Lopez and earned a second yellow card.
Lopez was lucky to escape without punishment for his role in the incident, but Postiga could have few complaints about his own treatment.
This now surely was Cordoba's chance at a first victory of the season, and yet they could do nothing to bring it about.
There were desperately few chances created, and those that were rarely troubled Fabricio.
Jose Maria Lopez Silva had the ball in the net in the 52nd minute, but was clearly offside as he tucked in the rebound from Borja Garcia's shot.
Garcia then headed just wide from Daniel Pinillos' cross, briefly encouraging the crowd, but it proved a false dawn.
Garcia blazed over while Fabricio comfortably dealt with efforts from Adrian Gunino and Abel Gomez as the frustration grew in the stands.
After the final whistle sounded, fans chose not to stream for the exits but instead remained to voice their anger - a display of passion which had been sadly lacking on the pitch.
ends