Blackpool 0-0 Rotherham: Tangerines slip to the bottom of the Championship after goalless draw with the Millers

Viktor Johansson had to be alert to deny Blackpool's Jerry Yates in the closing stages

Blackpool slipped to the bottom of the Championship after a goalless draw with fellow strugglers Rotherham that saw both sides go close to winning it in added time.

After 90 dour minutes, the game exploded into life as the clock ticked down as Millers goalkeeper Viktor Johansson denied the Tangerines a first win under manager Mick McCarthy with a fine save from Jerry Yates.

With the Seasiders fans still rueing their luck, play switched to the other end and Rotherham striker Chiedozie Ogbene crashed a shot against the bar.

The Yorkshire side could easily have taken all three points after a strong second-half performance, with the outstanding Cohen Bramall seeing a 25-yard free kick strike a post.

The draw keeps Rotherham, who have recently eked out draws against promotion-hopefuls Sheffield United and Watford, and beat Blackburn 4-0, on the edge of relegation scrap just four points of the bottom three.

Blackpool's winless run now extends to 13 league games.

With Rotherham recording just one win in their previous nine league games and Blackpool seeking a first victory over the Millers since 1997 - a run of 11 games - the first half was understandably messy and dull.

Sonny Carey had the only shot on target in a tense opening 45 minutes, his tame effort nestling easily in the arms of Johansson.

Both teams were more enterprising after the break as they sought a crucial win, but Bramall's free kick struck the post at one end and Yates directed a header wide after being picked out by Carey's cross.

Charlie Patino struck a half-volley straight at Johansson, and Hakeem Odoffin's header at the other end suffered the same fate, being gobbled by Chris Maxwell in the Blackpool goal.

Ollie Rathbone came closest to breaking the deadlock before the drama in added time, bursting into the box and forcing Maxwell to beat away his shot.

Blackpool manager Mick McCarthy told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"We prepared (for a scrap) and I can't knock the lads for the response they gave me. It was a bit of a war of attrition. I fully expected it and it didn't disappoint me in terms of what it was.

"We created some good chances within all of that and maybe just edged it, but I can't stand here and honestly say we deserved all three points and be brazen about it.

"I thought we'd done it at the end but then typically we got put through the wringer as they hit the crossbar. So I'll take the point and a clean sheet, which we haven't had for a long time."

Rotherham manager Matt Taylor told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"Mixed emotions. I was disappointed at half-time. I thought they affected us in terms of the way we used the ball.

"It was a competitive match. They were up and at us and are quite direct and physical with their play and any ball we had turned into too many turnovers and too many errors in that first half.

"We were much improved in the second half, hence the chances we created, and but for a crossbar and a post, and a good goalkeeper's save, then we were just a little bit short.

"They had only one short backpass towards the end that made Viktor make a save and they've not created too much.

"That's four games on the bounce we've only conceded one goal so defensively we're looking really solid.

"We go for it every game, regardless of who we play. We've had a couple of goalless draws but they haven't been boring goalless draw, but full of effort and endeavour.

"We have become incredibly resilient in the last few weeks and we have to keep adding layers to our performance levels. I have not looked at the table but I've told the players to start looking up."