Francesco Caputo's goal salvaged a point for Bari against Cesena in a lacklustre game at the San Nicola stadium this afternoon.

Giuseppe Colucci fired Cesena in front from the penalty spot in the 62nd minute after Massimo Donati had brought down Luis Jimenez inside the area.

However, two minutes later Caputo made no mistake from close range to secure a share of the spoils.

The draw is of little consolation for both teams as they remain in the relegation zone for another week.

Bari lie at the foot of the Serie A standings and Cesena are two points better off in 18th.

The home side were desperate to clinch their first win since September 26 but Giampiero Ventura's side, who had failed to find the back of the net in their previous three games, struggled against Cesena's well-organised defence in the opening half.

In the 20th minute, Bari's Nico Pulzetti fired a 30-yard effort way over the bar.

At the other end, Luca Ceccarelli fired wide from outside the area.

Bari were forced to make their first substitution in the 37th minute with Edgar Alvarez replacing an injured Alessandro Parisi.

Cesena should have broken the deadlock before half-time but Yohan Benalouane's header from Jimenez's cross was off target.

The visitors first tested Bari goalkeeper Jean Francois Gillet five minutes after the restart.

Ezequiel Schelotto served Emanuele Giaccherini inside the area and his right-footed strike towards the centre of goal was saved by Gillet.

Cesena goalkeeper Francesco Antonioli made the first save of the afternoon shortly after.

Antonioli did well to clear Francesco Caputo4s eight-yard shot towards the far post.

Shortly after the hour mark, the referee pointed to the penalty spot after Donati had fouled Jimenez in the area and Colucci coolly found the bottom corner.

But Bari hit back two minutes later when Caputo was played through by Emmanuel Rivas and scored from six yards.

Substitute Ivan Fatic had a chance to win it for the visitors late on, but his close-range effort was met by a fine save from Gillet.