Millers open Austria games with goalless draw in Lindabrunn...
Rotherham United opened their tour of Austria fixtures with a 0-0 draw against SKU Amstetten at their training base in Lindabrunn.
Paul Warne once again heavily rotated his squad for the Tuesday morning fixture, making 11 changes at the 60 minute-mark. Richard Wood and David Ball were handed minutes having missed out on the action at Parkgate on Saturday, whilst youngsters Reece McGinley and Akeem Hinds also featured in the second half.
A closely-contested first half yielded few chances for either side, but the Austrian natives had the better of the opportunities early on with goalkeeper Lewis Price called into action to make a couple of saves.
There was little to report on in the way of other goalmouth action in the opening 45 minutes, on a warm Austrian morning which required a drinks break shortly before half time.
Half-time | Rotherham 0 v 0 SKU Amstetten
Warne’s men remained well-drilled in the second period, but a resilient Amstetten side refused to relent with opportunities once again hard to come by.
The Millers almost forged an opening when Ryan Williams and Joe Mattock combined down the left flank, but the end delivery couldn’t pick out a red shirt in the box and ended up on the roof of the net.
11 changes followed just before the hour mark with everyone including goalkeeper Price replaced. Newell’s introduction was the most notable, as he made a series of dangerous runs to provide crosses that couldn’t be turned home by a teammate.
Jon Taylor also looked to provide the ammunition from the opposite flank but Amstetten’s defence held firm meaning both sides had to settle for a draw.
Full-time | Rotherham 0 v 0 SKU Amstetten
Rotherham (1st half) | Price; Vyner, Ajayi, Wood, Mattock; Forde, Wiles, Palmer, Williams, Smith, Yates.
Rotherham (60mins) | Bilboe; Hinds, Do Ball, Robertson, Purrington; Taylor, Vaulks, McGinley, Newell; Vassell, Da Ball.