Goalless draw at NYS....

It was honours even in the White Rose affair as Rotherham United and Huddersfield Town drew a blank at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.

The Millers – who have been on a barren run of late – ended their losing sequence in the Sky Bet Championship with a share of the spoils. Nevertheless, they may be slightly disappointed it was not more, as Huddersfield played out the remaining half hour with just ten men following Sorba Thomas’ dismissal.  

Millers Head Coach Leam Richardson made three changes to his starting line-up following the last outing at Norwich City.

There were a couple of changes in the home engine room. Cafu and Andy Rinomhota were recalled while Sam Nombe was part of a front pair alongside Charlie Wyke.

There were a number of familiar faces in the Terriers squad. Homegrown youngster Ben Wiles, Danny Ward and one-time Millers loanee Josh Koroma – who were all on the visitors’ bench - returned to their old stomping ground.

The Terriers – who occupied the last relegation spot prior to kick off - had the first sight of goal when Delano Burgzorg threaded a ball into the feet of Jack Rudoni, who struck a fierce left-footed effort which was smothered smartly by Viktor Johansson.

The Millers came within a coat of paint of the opener when Andy Rinomhota showed a clever piece of skill on the edge of the box to get the better of Rudoni before clipping a lovely effort, which beat the outstretched hand of Lee Nicholls, but unfortunately struck the inside the post, before dribbling back into the path of Wyke, who fired over the rebound despite the goal being at his mercy.

At the other end, Thomas drilled a low shot which whistled past the far post before turning provider when visiting skipper Jonathan Hogg nodded wide from his pinpoint set-piece.

Home captain Sean Morrison launched back-to-back long throws which caused havoc in the Terriers defence before returning to the day job to snuff out Burgzorg, who looked to set to threaten the target.

Minutes later, Johansson – despite being unsighted - kept his nerve to diffuse David Kasumu’s shot following Hogg’s lay-off before Brodie Spencer deservedly saw yellow for a hefty challenge on Sam Clucas.    

Just past the half hour mark, Burgzorg whipped in a dangerous cross which found Peter Kioso napping at the far post but Jiheim Headley failed to make the most of the opening when he headed wide from close range.

There was a moment of controversy when Kasumu ghosted past Kioso to dart into the box before tumbling under the challenge of Rinomhota, but the referee waved away visiting protests, and cautioned Kasumu for simulation.  

Both sides traded half chances when Johansson got his body behind Burgzorg’s effort before Seb Revan volleyed over from Kioso’s cross at the other end.

In the last act of the first 45, Matty Pearson acrobatically volleyed over after Huddersfield kept the ball alive from Thomas’ earlier corner.

Half-time: Rotherham United 0 Huddersfield Town 0

The Terriers – now attacking their large travelling contingent – were quick out of the blocks at the start of the second half, and Burgzorg almost took advantage of weak clearances from Kioso and Cafu, but he blasted over when he should have done better.

Minutes later, Thomas became the latest to incur the wrath of the referee when he was cautioned for a show of dissent following a clash with Morrison.

The moment proved crucial when Thomas found himself in hot water again, just four minutes later.

Thomas, ironically, was behind a Terriers free-kick at the other end of the pitch and after Johansson punched his centre to relative safety, Cafu turned defence into attack with a lovely cross field pass which found Ollie Rathbone, in acres of space, and the Welsh international, in an attempt to help out his defensive colleagues, clipped the heels of the Millers midfielder, and the referee brandished a second yellow card.   

The Millers almost made their numerical advantage count immediately when Cafu struck the resultant free-kick narrowly over the visitors’ bar.

In the next phase of play, Rotherham swept up field but the move ended with little reward when Wyke declined the opportunity to pass or shoot in the box and the chance was lost.

Huddersfield had a glimpse of goal when Rudoni bared down on goal but Morrison showed his vast experience with a perfectly-timed tackle to snuff out the danger.

Rathbone became the latest to see yellow for kicking the ball away before he almost went from villain to hero with a sweet strike from the edge of the box which stung the palms of Nicholls in the visitors’ goal.

With the game in the balance, Burgzorg – who had looked lively all afternoon – fired straight into the grateful hands of Johansson before Revan found himself in the book for a late challenge on Spencer.

In the last stages of the game, sub Tom Eaves got into his stride before firing a fierce shot from a tight angle but Nicholls parried his effort to safety.

There was little to report in the five minutes of stoppage time with both sides’ having to settle with a result which will do little to help their respective causes for Sky Bet Championship survival.  

Full-time: Rotherham United 0 Huddersfield Town 0

Rotherham United 0

Huddersfield Town 0

Teams: Rotherham- Johansson, Cafu, Clucas (Appiah 76), Rinomhota, Wyke (Eaves 76), Rathbone (Bramall 87), Morrison, Humphreys, Revan, Nombe, Kioso (Seriki 81). Unused- Phillips, Blackett, Lindsay, Ferguson, Odoffin.

Huddersfield- Nicholls, Pearson, Helik, Hogg, Burgzorg, Rudoni, Thomas, Headley, Spencer (Edwards 90+2), Kasumu (Wiles 46), Balker. Unused- Maxwell, Koroma, Diarra, Matos, Ward, Jones, Jackson.

Referee- J Smith

Attendance- 11033 (2419)