Inter Milan have missed the chance to climb back up to third in the Serie A table having been held to a 1-1 draw by relegation-threatened Crotone at San Siro this evening.
The out-of-form hosts took the lead midway through the first half courtesy of an Eder strike, but Andrea Barberis levelled things up for the visitors on the hour mark to earn Crotone a share of the spoils.
Inter have now drawn their last five league outings - including four successive 1-1 stalemates - and are winless in their last nine games across all competitions stretching back to December 3.
Crotone, meanwhile are now on their joint-longest unbeaten run of the season having made it three matches without losing, lifting themselves three points clear of the relegation zone in the process.
The hosts were first to threaten after 16 minutes when Matias Vecino collected possession on the edge of the box, but his subsequent effort flew narrowly over the crossbar.
It wasn't long before Inter did get the opening goal of the contest, though, as Eder rose highest inside the area to meet a corner and plant his header past the keeper from close range.
Clear-cut chances were difficult to come by for both teams after that, though, with Inter failing to build on their lead and ultimately paying the price for that when Crotone levelled things up on the hour mark.
Barberis put the finishing touch to a flowing team move from the visitors, drilling a low strike past Samir Handanovic in what was Crotone's first clear opportunity of the entire match.
There was almost an immediate response from Inter as Eder threatened to double his personal tally with an effort which looked destined for the bottom corner until Alex Cordaz pulled off a fine save to deny the striker a second.
Things could have been even better for Walter Zenga's side too when they came close to taking the lead 13 minutes from time, only for Marcello Trotta's strike to fizz narrowly past the post.
Inter had one final chance to take all three points and end their winless run in the 89th minute when Rafinha was played through on goal, but he spurned the opportunity and failed to hit the target as Crotone held on for a valuable draw.
INTER MILAN (4-3-3): Handanovic; D'Ambrosio, Skriniar, Miranda, Henrique (Cancelo, 74'); Vecino, Valero, Brozovic (Karamoh, 77'); Candreva (Rafinha, 64'), Eder, Perisic
CROTONE (4-3-3): Cordaz; Faraoni (Simic, 84'), Ceccherini, Capuano, Martella (Pavlovic, 58'); Barberis, Mandragora, Benali; Ricci, Trotta (Stoian, 77'), Nalini
Barney Corkhill
