RELEGATION nerves got the better of both sides in an uninspiring stalemate at an icy Greenhous Meadow.

Kevin Blackwell shuffled his pack, starting with his three latest loan signings - Ashley Eastham, Stephane Zubar and Nicky Ajose.

And Bury started much the brighter, dominating possession, but neither side looked willing to commit men forward in a match that both will have considered too important to lose.

Chances were few and far between as a result, with Bury restricted to a Joe Skarz free-kick in the first half that Shrews keeper Chris Weale did well to claw away at his right-hand post.

Shrewsbury’s fans subjected their players to ironic jeers as Marvin Morgan mustered up their first shot on target in the 59th minute.

But a raft of second-half substitutions brought the match to life, with Andy Bishop firing over with an overhead kick from four yards.

Shrews centre-midfielder Dave McAllister was closest to breaking the deadlock in the 70th minute, his deflected shot looping up off a Bury defender and bouncing back off Trevor Carson’s crossbar.

Yet Bury could have claimed a vital three points after Ethan Ebanks-Landell had a shot scrambled off the line late in the game.

The point extended Bury’s winless streak to nine league matches, but they remain three points from safety, third bottom in League One.