Fabio Capello recalled the fit-again Rio Ferdinand to the heart of defence and restored him to the captaincy, while Adam Johnson and Ashley Young made their first competitive starts for England.
Peter Crouch partnered Wayne Rooney in attack, with Kevin Davies having to settle for a place on the bench, while the visitors were missing star striker Mirko Vucinic due to a hamstring injury.
Early on Steven Gerrard played a long pass forward and Crouch was inches away from making contact and turning the ball goalwards.
With 16 minutes played Gerrard played a free-kick out to Glen Johnson on the right and his cross was headed over the top by Crouch.
The tempo of the game then dropped as the visitors stifled England's attacking intent, with chances at a premium at both ends.
Right on half-time Rooney saw a weak shot saved by Mladen Bozovic, as a poor first 45 minutes drew to an uninspiring close.
The opening minutes of the second half were broken up by a number of yellow cards, before on the hour mark Gerrard's superb pass played in Rooney, but Bozovic did superbly to block the initial shot and then grabbed the loose ball as Crouch waited to pounce.
Seventeen minutes from time Rooney found space in the area, but Bozovic made a fine reaction save and when Gerrard fired goalwards, the keeper was in the right place again.
Soon after England called for a penalty as Milan Jovanovic handled in the area, but nothing was given.
With six minutes left Montenegro almost did the unthinkable as Jovanovic's superb left-foot dipper crashed back out off the crossbar with Joe Hart well beaten.
Right at the death Bozovic clawed away a Barry effort to ensure that the visitors earned a deserved point and remained top of the group, having yet to concede a goal in four qualifiers.
