Swallows FC snapped a two-match losing streak in the DStv Premiership with a goalless draw against Cape Town City on Friday evening.
The Citizens featured two alterations from the loss to Stellenbosch FC in Edmilson Dove and Idumba Fasika, but the Dube Birds rolled out a maiden start for veteran Tebogo Langerman.
With head coach Brandon Truter placed on 'special leave' this week, the Dube Birds eagerly looked for a bright start but City intercepted and worked Virgil Vries to a save from Surprise Ralani's strike.
That energetic start from the Citizens didn't fizzle a frenzy of openings thereafter, as instead the rest of the opening quarter dwindled into a tight affair all-round.
Swallows though were on the receiving end of a possible breakthrough over ten minutes to halftime through Khetukuthula Ndlovu, but defender Taariq Fielies blocked timeously.
In the second half, the Dube Birds further upped the ante and from a smart move put City goalkeeper Hugo Marques to a bit of work which the latter handled effectively.
The Citizens came close to make the breakthrough twice within the midway spell of the second stanza through Abdul Jeleel Ajagun and Fagrie Lakay's snap-shot shaving beyond Vries's goal.
It was at this juncture where the Dube Birds decided to draw fresh faces in Langerman for Thabo Matlaba and Strydom Wambi introduced for Lebohang Mokoena.
Eric Tinkler and his technical bench didn't leave Swallows unchecked, but introduced Thabo Nodada, Douglas Maphumo and Terrence Mashego as a way of having a go at their counterparts.
Mashego, who just earned a national team call-up, was very close to open the deadlock from a move down the left-side but Swallows cleared, thus the match finished goalless.
Confirmed line-ups:
Swallows: Vries, Mere, Sait, Sibiya, Langerman, Matlou, Nyatama, Mokoena, Solomons, Ndlovu, Malinga.
Subs: February, Mohamme, Wambi, Khupe, Margeman, Makgalwa, Musonda, Saleng, Matlaba.
City: Hugo, Mkhize, Fielies, Fasika, Edmilson,bMobara, Mokeke, Mdantsane, Ralani, Ajagun, Lakay.
Subs: Mpandle, Nodada, Makola, Morris, Mashego, Mayo, Mapfumo, Mokhuane, Martin