A lack of creative edge failed to enhance either Bury's survival prospects or Wolves' promotion ambitions in a dismal affair at Gigg Lane.

Much of the talk before the game revolved around Bury new boy Paul Barnes, signed from Huddersfield for £40,000 yesterday.

Days earlier, his prospective switch to Wolves had collapsed following the Molineux board's refusal to stump up the required cash.

But the former York and Burnley striker failed to galvanise Neil Warnock's goal-shy side who have managed just 29 goals this campaign and have now extended their dreadful run to 16 games without a win.

A point was not enough to lift the Shakers out of the relegation zone nor will it have done much to improve sixth-placed Wolves' standing as they push for a play-off spot come May.

Debutante Barnes could have rubbed salt into Colin Lee's wounds twice in the first five minutes but on both occasions, the pacey striker failed to control the ball as he burst clear of the visitors' defence.

Wolves created the first clear-cut chance of the game, but Norwegian international Havard Flo snatched his shot from Robbie Keane's lay off, ballooning the ball over.

Carl Serrant proved Bury's most dangerous outlet, and his 14th-minute free-kick sent Mike Stowell in the Wolves goal sprawling.

Serrant, on loan from Newcastle, came closer nine minutes before the break, his vicious in-swinging corner headed out from under the crossbar by Paul Simpson with Stowell beaten.

Stowell was far busier than opposite number Dean Kiely throughout the first half, keeping out a flashing header from Barnes before brilliantly tipping over Darren Bullock's 25-yard piledriver at full stretch.

Then three minutes before the break, the bustling Laurent Djaffo burst through, but Stowell stood tall to fist out his left-foot drive.

Yet for all Bury's pressure, it was Wolves who almost stole a half-time lead with the precocious Keane appearing on the blind side of the Shakers' defence to meet Flo's cross and force Kiely into a smart save.

Efforts on goal were sparse for either side in a scrappy second period, Bury visibly lacking the physical presence of Djaffo up front, the Frenchman having struggled off with a groin strain shortly after the interval.

Bury's baffling quality was epitomised by skipper Chris Lucketti, a recent £1million target for Huddersfield, with the centre-back hurtling himself at Neil Emblen to snuff out the half's only clear-cut chance.

Substitute Steve Corica might have stole a point for Wolves near the end, but his dipping volley sailed just wide.

Teams

Bury: Kiely, Billy, Serrant, Daws, Lucketti, Redmond, Swailes, Hall, D'Jaffo (Preece 49), Barnes, Bullock (West 80).

Subs Not Used: Littlejohn.

Booked: D'Jaffo.

Wolverhampton: Stowell, Atkins, Gilkes, Sedgley, Richards, Curle, Simpson (Corica 60), Emblen, Flo, Keane (Connolly 80), Osborn.

Subs Not Used: Robinson.

Booked: Curle.

Att: 5,204

Ref: P Robinson (Hull).