REPORT | Rotherham 0 v 0 Sheffield United

It was honours even in the South Yorkshire derby as Rotherham United earned a creditable point against promotion-chasing Sheffield United.

Both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils in the lunchtime kick-off - with chances at a premium - at a sold-out AESSEAL New York Stadium. Matt Taylor’s side have now taken four points out of six against their local rivals, following their solitary goal victory at Bramall Lane, earlier in the campaign.

Following their fortnight break in Sky Bet Championship action, the Millers ranks were reinforced by a number of new arrivals during the January transfer window.

The home faithful were given their first glimpse of several players, who come to South Yorkshire with a wealth of Premier League and Championship experience.

West Ham loanee Conor Coventry was part of the home engine room while Jordan Hugill led the Rotherham line for the first time following his permanent deal from Norwich.

The Millers fans got another glimpse of Tariqe Fosu, who impressed on his debut in the last outing at Watford.

Australian defender Bailey Wright was named on the home bench while another new recruit, Domingos Quina was not part of the Millers 18.

Fans favourite Ollie Rathbone was handed the captain’s armband, in the absence of club skipper Richard Wood and Dan Barlaser, following the midfielder’s departure to Middlesbrough.

The New York crowd were at fever pitch, in a fast and furious start, and Taylor’s side had the first openings when Coventry threaded a ball to Fosu, whose path to goal was blocked abruptly by a Blades defender, who stood his ground in the box, but the referee took no further action.

Just seconds later, Hugill flicked on a ball which saw Chiedozie Ogbene in a foot race with visiting ‘keeper Wes Foderingham, and the Rotherham flyer got a toe to the ball before the Blades stopper, but Foderingham did just enough to divert the ball away from goal.

There was a lengthy stoppage when Iliman Ndiaye clashed with Grant Hall which left the highly-rated forward needing treatment, but the Senegalese international soon returned to the fray.

The Blades had their first attack of note when Oli McBurnie’s lay off paved the way for Jayden Bogle to skip down the right flank but his deflected cross, while awkward, was plucked out of the sky by Vitkor Johansson.

Johansson was called into action once again, as he got down low to his right to smother Sander Berge’s low drive from distance before McBurnie threatened the Millers goal when he raced away but Lee Peltier blocked his shot at close quarters.

The Blades had upped the tempo with a series of corners and free-kicks and Johansson showed bravery to turn Bogle’s wicked cross to safety before an offside award released the pressure on the hosts.

Despite being second best during this part of the match, Rotherham came close to breaking the deadlock, just past the half hour.

Leo Hjelde and Fosu combined smartly, and the Brentford loanee weighed up his options before delivering a pinpoint cross into the box which was met by Hakeem Odoffin, who looked to guide his header towards the bottom corner of the Blades goal but Foderingham showed good agility to deny him with a smart save.

The home side were having their best spell of the half and Ogbene showed Berge a clean pair of heels to skip away but Jack Robinson produced a fine tackle to halt his progress before Rathbone then Fosu showed no shortage of skill to send Odoffin away, but his cross was turned behind by a retreating visiting defender.

There was an early flashpoint, early in the second half, when both Anel Ahmedhodzic and Ben Osborn looked to close down Fosu, who bizarrely escaped their attentions, and left the Blades duo grounded, and somewhat red-faced. Fosu took advantage to dart away but his bobbling cross was straight down the throat of Foderingham.

The Blades threatened on two occasions when firstly Berge’s drilled cross evaded away runners and Hjelde, at the far post, showed good awareness to flick the ball away from his own goal before Anel Ahmedhodzic, arguably should have done better, when he headed over from Bogle’s cross.

Attacking the KCM Waste Management Stand, Rotherham had a spring in their step going forward and Hugill was unfortunate not to meet Ogbene’s centre before Rathbone, in characteristic fashion, embarked on a direct run from halfway before flashing a left-footed shot just wide.

Grant Hall had to be on toes to deny Berge from shooting goalwards before Ahmedhodzic became the first to see yellow, just seconds later, for hauling back Fosu in full flow.

Minutes later, Bogle hacked over with the goal at his mercy, but a dubious offside award would have ruled any goal out, although the ball appeared to come into his path from Peltier.

The same player threatened again when he got Berge’s pass under his spell before firing a snap shot which fizzed into the Blades fans behind the goal.

Taylor made a double substitution with just over twenty minutes to go when Hugill, who put in a hard-working shift in his first game in Millers colours, got a generous hand from the home fans.

There was a bizarre twist when Wright – one of the substitutes – was involved in an aerial clash, just seconds after being introduced, which left him needing treatment before the decision was made to replace him with Wes Harding.

The evergreen Billy Sharp made an immediate impact from the bench when firstly Cameron Humphreys was forced to make a last-ditch tackle to deny him before a floated cross from the experienced forward had Johansson backtracking nervously towards his own goal, as it cleared the home crossbar.

Rathbone was yellow-carded for hacking down sub James McAtee and the Millers were almost punished from the resultant free-kick but Robinson failed to make a clean connection with an unmarked header.

Both sides traded half-chances near the end when Sharp stung the palms of Johansson with a clipped effort before Odoffin’s tame shot was comfortably gathered by Foderingham, at the other end.

The Blades had the last chance of note in stoppage time when Bogle flashed a shot into the side netting from a tight angle.