Bolton Wanderers and Bristol City went into half time with the deadlock intact following an uneventful first period at the Macron Stadium.
The visitors almost forced an opening with 14 minutes on the clock as Kieran Agard got in behind the Bolton defence and shot narrowly wide of Ben Amos's goal.
Neither side gave the other an inch in front of goal in the opening stages, but there was a let-off for the hosts in the 16th minute when Prince-Desir Gouano's attempted clearance rebounded against his own crossbar.
City threatened again in the 38th minute when Marlon Pack found space on the edge of the box and got a shot away, only to slice his effort into the stand.
It proved to be the last meaningful attack of a subdued first half between two Championship strugglers.
