Rotherham United kept a second successive clean sheet away from home as they drew 0-0 at York City.
Manager Steve Evans kept an unchanged side for the trip to North Yorkshire, with Kayode Odejayi continuing to lead the line up front. York City included Matty Blair in the side, who scored the late winner for the Minstermen in their 1-0 Johnstone’s Paint Trophy victory in the New York Stadium earlier in the season.
The game didn’t have long to wait for the first chance as Lionel Ainsworth lined up from the edge of the area but his shot was comfortable for Michael Ingham three minutes in.
Both sides got into good areas and the home side could have had better opportunities but for two fine interceptions from Craig Morgan and Ian Sharps. However, the first chance did come for the home side as Ashley Chambers tried his luck from distance only for Scott Shearer to gather at the second attempt.
Jason Walker caused more problems for Shearer midway through the half, and whilst the first rolled harmlessly wide the second brought a fine save from the ‘keeper with his legs.
Michael O’Connor, fresh from his brace against Oxford last week put an effort from 20 yards straight at Ingham, before Ainsworth had the best chance of the game when Kayode Odejayi put him through, but his toe-poke didn’t test Ingham either.
Half-time
York City 0-0 Millers
The second half had little to live up and started very differently, and within five minutes the Millers had tested Ingham as Evans received the ball after neat work by Odejayi and half time substitute Kieran Agard and rifled an effort at the feet of the former Northern Ireland international. At the other end, Coulson played in Walker whose effort had Shearer beat but was just inches past the post.
Ainsworth, now operating in a central role behind Odejayi had two glorious opportunities to open the scoring but after bursting in behind the defence he prodded the first one wide, and then when he was unable to do much else, he diverted Evans’ shot wide from close range.
The combination of Coulson and Walker created another chance for the home side but it was Chambers, getting a chance at the far post who went closest in the latter stages, hitting the outside of the post.
Full-time
York City 0-0 Millers
York: Ingham, Smith, Parslow, Walker, Chambers, Coulson (Kerr 66), Fyfield, Blair, Challinor, Doig, McLaughlin (Kearns 66).
Unused: Musselwhite, Blanchett, Reed, Johnson, Carlisle
Millers: Shearer, Arn ason, Sharps, Ainsworth, O’Connor, Evans, Pringle (Agard HT), Odejayi, Hunt, Morgan, Harris.
Unused: Tonge, Taylor, Bradley, Noble, Warrington, Denton
Att: 5,417 (1,596)