Valletta dropped two important points in their bid to keep the pace with leaders Balzan and second-placed Hibernians as they were held in a goalless draw by Mosta at the Victor Tedesco Stadium on Sunday.

The Citizens now lie four points behind the Paolites and five behind Balzan, one ahead of Floriana and Birkirkara. Mosta, on the other hand, join Gzira on the nine-point mark in tenth place, two ahead of bottom-placed Pembroke.

Valletta had two changes as Santiago Malano and Uchenna Calistus Umeh replaced the suspended Claudio Pani and Federico Falcone. For Mosta, Yenz Cini replaced Manuel Bartolo in goal while Zachary Brincat and Emerson Vella replace Kevaugh Atkinson and the suspended Chinatu Francis Onwudinjo.

It was a pathetic performance by the two teams with goal-mouth action throughout the ninety minutes being rare. In fact, goalkeepers Dziugas Bartkus and Yenz Cini were hardly tested.

VALLETTA Dziugas Bartkus, Jonathan Caruana, Steve Borg, Ryan Camilleri (64′ Romeu Pericles Romao), Santiago Malano (84′ Russell Fenech), Michael Mifsud, Llywelyn Cremona (64′ Jean Borg), Uchenna Calistus Umeh, Leandro Aguirre, Jhonnattann Benites da Conceicao, Valdo Goncalves Alhinho.
Subs not used: Henry Bonello, Matthew Spiteri, Nicholas Pulis, Kenny Spagnol.

MOSTA Yenz Cini, Adrian Caruana, Tristan Grant, Kurt Magro, Emerson Vella, Dexter Xuereb, Kemmu Jackson (90′ Kyle Frendo), Chevaugn Mclaren, Lucky Victor Oseghale (63′ Martin Vlcek), Njongo Priso (87′ Bradley Meledje), Zachary Brincat.
Subs not used: Manuel Bartolo, Jurgen Grech, Sheldon Vassallo, Luca Martinelli.
Coach: Jojo Bajada

Referee: Glen Tonna
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, William Debattista
Fourth Official: Stefan Pace
Yellow Cards: Priso, Mclaren, Caruana
BOV Player of the Match: Kurt Magro
Attendance: 711