Chances were few and far between at the Stadion Galgenwaard and Twente's frustrations boiled over in the final minute when Wout Brama saw red for a poor challenge on Ricky van Wolfswinkel.

Utrecht almost snatched the points from the resulting free-kick but Nana Asare's effort was saved by visiting goalkeeper Sander Boschker.

PSV Eindhoven will pull level on points with Twente if they win their game in hand against Roda JC on Tuesday.

Ajax were also held to a stalemate by NAC Breda and remain nine points behind the leaders.

The Amsterdam club were trailing to an Ellery Cairo strike after 17 minutes, but Rasmus Lindgren pulled a goal back eight minutes before the interval to secure a 1-1 draw.

In today's other match, NEC Nijmegen gave their survival hopes a lift with a 2-1 victory at home to Vitesse Arnhem.

Saidi Ntibazonkiza (27) and Ramon Zomer (56) scored the goals for NEC to cancel out a sixth-minute penalty from Lasse Nilsson.

The result moves NEC four points clear of bottom club RKC Waalwijk.