Dynamos' troubled start to the new campaign took another nasty turn as they lost 1-0 at home to eternal rivals Highlanders on Monday for a third defeat in four matches in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League.
Striker Ozias Zibande proved the difference after tapping the ball home from close range on the stroke of half-time to cap a dominant first-half display for Highlanders.
The visitors continued to look the more threatening side after the break and could have notched a couple more goals but for some poor finishing.
The result leaves 21-time champions Dynamos sitting second from bottom with only a point to show for their efforts after match-day 4.
Coach Lloyd Mutasa made three changes to his starting line-up for the Rufaro Stadium clash as he continues his search for the elusive winning combinations, with midfielder Kudzanai Dhemere, winger Cleopas Kapupurika and forward Quality Kangadze making way for Tawanda Macheka, Kuda Kumwala and Obey Mwerahari.
But far from sparking the desperately needed positive response, the changes actually made Dynamos even more disjointed. It didn't help that they were up against one of the league's form teams, with Highlanders' midfield of Adrian Silla, Brian Banda and Ben Musaka winning the battles against the misfiring trio of James Marufu, Obey Mwerahari and Raphael Manuvire.
Playmaker Manuvire had looked sharp in earlier rounds, but on Monday he struggled to find his rhythm at the heart of a technically-challenged forward line.
Some Dynamos supporters have attributed the team's woes to the absence of star striker Christian Ntouba but, on Monday's evidence, there was little the Cameroonian marksman would have done.
While Dynamos have found a new home at the bottom of the standings, Ngezi Platinum are flying at the opposite end after beating Nichrut 1-0 in Gweru to make it four wins in as many matches.
Fit-again Terrence Dzukamanja's second-half strike proved adequate to hand the visitors all three points, but Tonderai Ndiraya's had to work hard for their win against the determined newcomers.
Chicken Inn, meanwhile, clobbered 10-men Shabanie Mine 3-0 in Bulawayo to remain on the coattails of the log leaders.
Obadiah Tarumbwa put the 2015 champions ahead after 21 minutes, before left-back Devine Lunga and former TP Mazembe forward Daryl Nyandoro applied gloss to the scoreline with two second-half strikes.
In a match played on Sunday, Simba Nhivi powered CAPS to a 2-0 win over Black Rhinos with a goal either side of the break at the National Sports Stadium.
Former Dynamos star Denver Mukamba made his first start since joining CAPS and although he showed signs of rust following his lengthy layoff, it was his corner-kick which created Nhivi's first-half opener.
Nhivi completed his double late in the second period with a neat tap-in off a delightful cross from Joel Ngodzo as CAPS ended a run of three straight draws.
RESULTS
Sunday Black Rhinos 0 Caps United 2 Bulawayo Chiefs 1 Chapungu 0 Herentals 0 Yadah 0
Monday Dynamos 0 Highlanders 1 Chicken Inn 3 Shabanie 0 FC Platinum 1 Bulawayo City 0 Triangle 1 ZPC Kariba 0 Mutare City 1 Harare City 1 Nichrut 0 Ngezi Platinum 1