Birmingham City 0-0 Rotherham United - Wayne Rooney's Blues held at home by Rotherham

Rotherham and Birmingham were restricted to four on-target efforts each at St Andrew's

Wayne Rooney's Birmingham City failed to win again in front of their own fans - and co-owners Tom Brady and Tom Wagner - as they were held to a goalless draw at home by Wayne Carlisle's Rotherham United.

The War of the Waynes proved anything but box-office entertainment in a game of very few clear-cut chances.

Up against a team still under the caretaker management of Carlisle, following the sacking of Matt Taylor, Rooney has now won just one of his eight games in charge.

Blues, hit by the 26th-minute loss of defender Ethan Laird, now lie 15th, 10 points clear of 23rd-placed strugglers Rotherham, who picked up only their second away point this season.

• Saturday's Championship action, as it happened

After Birmingham dominated the early exchanges, it took a fingertip save by home keeper John Ruddy on 20 minutes to deny Sam Nombe after he had battled past Dion Sanderson and got in a low strike.

Nombe then hit the bar with a header after beating Ruddy to a high cross, before Blues skipper Sanderson made a crucial block on the line to deny Oliver Rathbone.

The hosts again struggled to find any momentum after the interval, as Rotherham looked the more likely of the two sides to make the crucial breakthrough.

Lukas Jutkiewicz was brought off the bench to try to add firepower to the Birmingham frontline, and the veteran striker thought he had won it late on but had his goal chalked off after the offside flag was raised.

The experienced duo of Jordan Hugill and Sean Morrison came off the bench for Rotherham, who twice nearly won it themselves when on-loan Emanuel Aiwu cleared off the line from Nombe and former West Brom striker Hugill looped a header over.

Rotherham United caretaker manager Wayne Carlisle has drawn two of his three games in charge

Who's next?

After their fifth home point out of a possible 12 from the Rooney era, Birmingham's next quest is to get a first away point under their new boss from Friday night's Midlands derby at the CBS Arena against their former St Andrew's tenants Coventry City.

Having bounced back from their 4-1 midweek defeat by Hull City to pick up a second point under caretaker boss Carlisle, the Millers' next scheduled game is at home to Swansea City next Saturday.

Birmingham City manager Wayne Rooney told BBC Radio WM:

"We've got to be happy with a point. We started well, then Ethan Laird goes off and we get sloppy.

"After 20 minutes the players thought it was too easy and they got complacent. That was a real worry for me.

"We can't control the ball, we can't pass the ball to one another. And our two centre-halves have to come and head the ball more. We aren't aggressive enough.

"The performance for 60 minutes was nowhere near the levels I want. Jordan James did well when he came on but we were fortunate to come away with a draw in the end."

Rotherham United boss Wayne Carlisle:

"I'm pleased with the performance but I'm slightly disappointed that we didn't come out with the three points.

"We wanted a reaction after the Hull game and the boys rolled their sleeves up and gave a real Rotherham United performance.

"I'm delighted we were creating chances away from home and putting ourselves in these positions but disappointed we were not taking them.

"My most important job is keeping the guys together and to try to win games of football until someone tells me I'm not doing it."