Both Crewe and Rotherham remain in relegation trouble at the bottom of the First Division table after an uninspiring stalemate at the Alexandra Stadium.
Ronnie Moore's visitors always suggested they were more likely to win a poor quality contest, marred by a swirling wind, and a fear of failure, particularly by the hosts.
Crewe offered little where it mattered around the visiting box in what is arguably the most winnable game of their remaining fixtures.
Midfielder Justin Cochrane's first-half volley, which flew back off the foot of Mike Pollitt's post was one of the rare threats they posted all afternoon.
Millers keeper Pollitt made a good save late on when he palmed David Wright's low drive around his post.
But it was Crewe's loan keeper, Ben Williams, who was the busiest as Rotherham suggested they could convert their pressure into the winning goal.
A double save from the dangerous Andy Monkhouse and Michael Proctor in the first half proved vital after Crewe had survived penalty appeals when John Mullin tumbled under the young keeper's challenge.
Referee Colin Webster turned the former Burnley man's appeals away and that was one of several poor decisions made by the Tyne and Weir official.
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While Butler was always a threat, his partner Proctor failed to inspire, and missed applying his head to Monkhouse's deep cross at the far post.
He eventually made way for Ritchie Barker in the second half and Crewe brought on leading scorer Steve Jones in an effort to pep up their attack, in which Dean Ashton and the substituted Craig Hignett had failed to fire.
Jones, who had been left on the bench after a gruelling flight to Estonia with the Northern Ireland team in midweek, came close to turning in Kenny Lunt's free-kick at the far post and then miscued with the goal at his mercy from eight yards out.
Monkhouse belted a late free-kick into Williams' arms and Paul Warne drove wide as Rotherham left South Cheshire the happier of two struggling teams.