Albion's chronic lack of punch up front is threatening their League One status.

The arrival of former Gillingham striker Bas Savage did nothing to improve the Seagulls' barren run of form.

Nor, in fairness, was it likely to. Savage's record suggests he is more liable to help colleagues find the net than to score himself.

Fellow newcomer Nick Ward from Queens Park Rangers had an encouraging first half but Frenchman Alexis Bertin had to wait until the 73rd minute for his debut.

Even with the new faces it was the same old story. Albion controlled the match but had to settle for a second successive goalless draw at Withdean.

They have not scored at home now for almost five and a half hours and only once in the last seven matches.

Their failure this time came against a poor Rotherham side keeping a first clean sheet since October when they beat Brentford, who they have now replaced at the bottom of the table.

With the teams below Albion showing signs of recovery they are in real danger of being dragged back into trouble unless they can find an answer to their goalscoring problems.

Albion gave debuts to two of their new signings.

Savage took over from Joe Gatting and Ward replaced Tommy Fraser, who was ruled out of the squad by illness.

Bertin was among the replacements together with his compatriot Zoumana Bakayogo, who was an unused substitute in the 0-0 draw at home to Port Vale a week earlier.

Rotherham handed a debut to veteran former Norwich stalwart and centre half Craig Fleming signed on a free transfer on deadline day.

Their other new recruit, fullback Theo Streete from Derby, was on the bench.

Stung by criticism of the way seats were allocated for last month's FA Cup tie at West Ham, Albion invited season ticket holders to bring a friend for a fiver in an attempt to boost dwindling crowds.

They did not have too much to get excited about in a rather untidy first half, although the Seagulls should have been in charge by the break.

They had two good opportunities to take the lead in the opening 25 minutes, first when Dean Hammond released Jake Robinson in behind the Rotherham defence.

Robinson's cross was met by Dean Cox but the smallest player on the pitch headed inches wide.

Questions The Rotherham defence would have been asking serious questions of themselves if Cox had been allowed to score.

They had another let-off ten minutes later when Ward's clever pass put Robinson clean through.

It was a wonderful opportunity for the young striker to end a goal drought in League One stretching back to his hat-trick at Huddersfield in October but he could not beat keeper Neil Cutler.

While Savage struggled to make a meaningful impact, Ward caught the eye with his passing ability and eagerness to get on the ball.

On one occasion he played a square ball to Robinson just outside the box and was perplexed not to receive a pass back as Robinson shot straight at Cutler.

Cox, sent off in Albion's 1-0 victory at Rotherham on the first day of the season, went close to breaking the deadlock again in the 33rd minute.

He cut inside onto his right foot after a neat build-up involving Ward and Hammond and his curling effort deflected just wide of the far post off a Rotherham defender for a corner.

Ward discovered in his first taste of League One that it can be pretty bruising at times, especially with both teams towards the wrong end of the table and desperate for a victory.

Hammond and Rotherham midfielder Justin Cochrane, returning from a suspension for five bookings, traded strong challenges and yellow cards inside the first five minutes.

In fact, it took only 19 seconds for Cochrane to have his name taken. It left Hammond requiring lengthy treatment and retribution from the Seagulls' skipper was swift.

Michel Kuipers was also in the wars. He landed heavily as Rotherham striker Chris O'Grady chased a bouncing ball and the pair collided in mid-air.

It was a relief for the Seagulls when the big Dutchman eventually got back to his feet after attention from physio Malcolm Stuart.

The sale of Wayne Henderson to Preston and the collapse of the intended return of Alan Blayney meant the promising but untested John Sullivan was on the bench as cover for Kuipers.

But for Cutler and more accurate finishing, Albion could have wrapped the game up by the break.

On the stroke of half-time another delightful through ball from Ward released Hammond for a fierce right-foot drive which Cutler acrobatically parried to safety.

Cutler continued to stand between Albion and a goal to reward their growing domination.

The much-travelled keeper, playing for his tenth club, used an unconventional method from a dangerous cross by Robinson flighted towards the near post.

He kicked the ball high and wide of his own net for a corner as Savage threatened.

Savage improved in the second half, when his hold-up play became more reliable.

Ward, by contrast, was not quite the same accurately probing force, although he made room for himself to get in a shot from 20 yards which the dependable Cutler held down to his right.

Rotherham had been impotent going forward but Albion, as has often been the case this season, were almost architects of their own downfall with 18 minutes remaining.

Hesitation between Joe O'Cearuill and Kuipers led to the keeper spilling the ball deep inside his own area. It required a block from Guy Butters to prevent the visitors from taking the lead against the run of play.

It was not one of Kuipers' more authoratitive afternoons.

An unconvincing punch from a free-kick by Martin Woods only fell as far as Cochrane on the edge of the area but Kuipers redeemed himself by stretching to hold onto the Rotherham player's attempt to find the net by lifting a diving header over him.

Bertin was given his first taste of English football in a straight swap for Adam El-Abd and the man from Le Havre almost made an immediate impact with a half-volley over the bar from eight yards.

The Seagulls continued to huff and puff to no great effect and they were grateful for a point in the end.

Eugen Bopp nearly snatched victory for Rotherham in the first minute of stoppage time with a shot from 25 yards which beat Kuipers and struck the top of the crossbar.