Birmingham City 0-0 Millwall: Blues and Lions fail to spark in goalless draw
- Published
Lukas Jutkiewicz heads Birmingham's best chance over
Gary Rowett's Millwall secured a fifth successive draw as they played out a dull goalless stalemate with his old club Birmingham City.
Goalmouth action was limited in a tepid first half, and the best chance fell to Blues when Maxime Colin's lofted ball to the far post was just too high for Lukas Jutkiewicz to direct his header on target.
Chances remained limited after the break, Kristian Pedersen heading over for the hosts when unmarked from Ivan Sanchez's cross, typifying a contest low on quality and composure.
Jake Cooper almost snatched a late winner for the Lions with the game's only moment of quality when his overhead kick drew a fine save from home keeper Neil Etheridge.
Both sides have chalked up just 22 league goals between them this season, and it was easy to see why in a game lacking inspiration and adventure with just three shots on target recorded.
Jon Dadi Bodvarsson headed Jed Wallace's second-half corner wide when well-placed as Millwall served up a third successive goalless away draw on former Blues boss Rowett's return to St Andrew's.
Blues boss Aitor Karanka could at least savour only a second clean sheet in 27 home matches as his side made it seven draws for the season, one fewer than the Lions.
Blues, who are without a win in five matches, remain in 17th place, while Millwall - now winless in six - drop to 11th.
Birmingham boss Aitor Karanka told BBC WM 95.6:
"We knew it was going to be really difficult. We had to be the way we are. Had we approached the game in the way we intended, it would have been impossible to have even taken one point.
"Our defenders have been brilliant once again. We created no clear chances, but at least we had a few of them.
"To create better chances we have to control the game. We have the players to play, but maybe they are not as intense as they should be.
"Players who are intense are maybe not as good with the ball, but it is the way to be consistent and keep going."
Millwall manager Gary Rowett:
"Are we setting out to draw games? No. We're trying to win games, we're making attacking changes, but we're very limited at the moment because of injuries.
"I appreciate people are frustrated - I'm sure our fans are because it looks like we're going away to get draws, but we're certainly not trying to do that.
"We're trying the best we can - we had Jake Cooper playing the last 15 minutes with a dislocated shoulder, that's how it is.
"We're showing the character. Now we've got to show a bit more quality and composure."