Stoke City 0-0 Millwall: Gary Rowett's return to Potters sees Lions earn point
- Published
Stoke's Wales international striker Sam Vokes came as close as anyone to breaking the deadlock
Millwall continued their resurgence under Gary Rowett as they earned a point against his former side Stoke City to make it just two defeats from 14 Championship games since he took over.
A dour match saw just five attempts on target with Stoke unable to take advantage of playing the final few minutes against 10 men following Shaun Williams' red card for a late challenge on Liam Lindsay.
Sam Vokes was twice narrowly off target for the hosts in the first half, while Mahlon Romeo and Tom Bradshaw were both denied by Potters keeper Jack Butland.
The Lions remain seventh in the table following a four-game unbeaten run, while Stoke are still a point above the relegation zone.
But Rowett's side missed the chance to go into the play-off places against a Stoke side who rarely threatened.
Tyrese Campbell blasted an early chance over for the home team and also saw a second-half effort scrambled off the line by Millwall's Jake Cooper.
But neither side were able to find the breakthrough in an increasingly scrappy match.
Stoke city manager Michael O'Neill:
"We're disappointed. Overall it was probably a disappointing game to be honest from both sides.
"I thought second half we were better and we just didn't capitalise on the opportunities that we had.
"It was a game where it was hard to create a really good chance and I think if there was any team which looked most likely to win it it was us.
"We just didn't manage to find that quality we needed to go and win the game."
Millwall manager Gary Rowett:
"It was a difficult game, a poor game in terms of a spectacle. That's what the Championship is like sometimes, the wind swirls around this stadium and makes it so difficult.
"First half we probably tried to over-play to get into the positions we wanted to.
"Second half was probably the opposite, we then become direct because we're not making the extra pass, and Stoke started to get a little bit more control of the ball.
"I'd like to see us use the ball better but what we have got is incredible spirit and determination to get results. We've had some difficult games."