A spectacle it most certainly wasn’t.

But what Saturday’s Sheffield stalemate lacked in entertainment, Shrewsbury Town will now be hoping to make up for in significance when they return to the Greeenhous Meadow this week.

Should Town stretch their immaculate run of six consecutive home victories against Accrington Stanley tomorrow and AFC Wimbledon on Saturday, they will reflect with a degree of satisfaction on their draw at fancied if out of form Rotherham.

And, after a testing run on the road, Graham Turner’s side will no doubt relish a return to more familiar surroundings after earning a point from a lifeless Don Valley Stadium encounter.

Following consecutive away defeats at Southend and Crawley, Town will be relatively pleased to emerge with a share of the spoils thanks to Shane Cansdell Sherriff’s first half injury time volley.

But Shrewsbury will have made their way back down the M1 knowing they are still searching for the attacking X Factor which illuminated the early weeks of their campaign and accounted for Derby, Swansea and a number of their League Two rivals during August and early September.

While Town looked more dependable defensively and enjoyed an ample share of possession, their attacking spark deserted them on a day when Cansdell-Sherriff’s leveller was their only genuine shot on target prior to a late push from the visitors.

And what a roller-coaster of emotions Cansdell-Sherriff must have endured.

Left out of the starting line-up following a shaky run of form, the Australian had to wait just 27 minutes to find himself back in the heat of battle after the luckless Carl Regan’s comeback from a two month injury absence was ended by a fresh hamstring problem.

Cansdell-Sherriff was to respond impressively with a commanding defensive display supplemented by the headline act of a smart volleyed finish from 12 yards after the impressive Jermaine Grandison nodded a Mark Wright free-kick back into the danger area.

That first half injury time intervention ensured Town were back on level terms by the interval after falling behind to a goal of the season contender.

Shrewsbury will reflect on needlessly losing possession as Nicky Wroe was forced to stretch for a Regan pass which was slightly out of his immediate range.

But the visitors were helpless to prevent Lewis Grabban firing a 30 yard effort into the top corner.

Grabban and Gareth Evans were both denied by Chris Neal during a first half where Rotherham provided the greater attacking threat before Cansdell-Sherriff’s timely leveller.

Neither side truly threatened to break the deadlock in a largely uninspiring second period until a James Collins-inspired late flurry from the visitors.

Substitute Collins fizzed one 20 yard opportunity just over the bar and fired another straight at Rotherham’s veteran goalkeeper Andy Warrington, who may also have conceded a penalty after he was involved in an injury time tangle with Marvin Morgan.

With Neal nothing more than a spectator after the break, Shrewsbury were never in real danger of leaving Sheffield after a third successive away defeat.

A good point?

Only the outcome of the forthcoming home double header will truly determine that.

Match analysis by JAMES GARRISON