Rotherham United let Huddersfield Town off the hook in 0-0 draw

Rotherham United missed their chance against Huddersfield Town.

In a game both sides needed to win, neither did. The Millers only had themselves to blame for a 0-0 draw.

Lewis Wing's free-kick against the crossbar showed great intelligence but Matty Crooks's earlier shot against the woodwork ought to have been put in, and Ben Wiles did not even hit the target late on. They also had a goal disallowed for offside.

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The Terriers were desperately short of quality, and look as though they will spend the run-in hoping other teams are not good enough to drop them into the Championship relegation zone.

CAPTAINS COLLIDE: Jonathan Hogg challenges Richard WoodCAPTAINS COLLIDE: Jonathan Hogg challenges Richard Wood
CAPTAINS COLLIDE: Jonathan Hogg challenges Richard Wood

That is where Rotherham are, but Coventry City's defeat at Bournemouth means they have closed the gap to safety to six points with three games in hand. Birmingham City won to overtake Huddersfield.

Unsurprisingly given both teams were licking their wounds after chastening defeats and desperate for the win, quality football was sparse in the first half but when there was some, Rotherham produced it and ought to have scored.

Wing released Wiles, who did well to get to the byline and laid a chance on for Matty Crooks, back in the hole as Paul Warne reverted to a 3-5-1-1. With time to pick his spot, Crooks found the base of the post.

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That chance, after 24 minutes, jolted Huddersfield into action, although it only translated into one save for Viktor Johansson, which he made well.

A good pass from Fraizer Campbell found Yaya Sanago but good closing down by Angus MacDonald saw it deflect behind. Wes Harding then headed a difficult Campbell cross behind.

Johansson made a good save with his chest from a fierce shot by Richard Keogh, up for a corner, then Sanogo put a Juninho Bacuna cross wide.

Coach Carlos Corberan had moved Campbell from the left of a 4-2-3-1 into a more orthodox front two to make more of his link with targetman Sanogo.

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Rotherham finished the half stronger, the fit-again Ryan Schofield doing well to stop a Jonathan Hogg header back being a problem as Jamie Lindsay chased it. The Scot then robbed Pipa but saw his shot deflected wide.

Rotherham started the second half with a goal disallowed for offside when Crooks showed great athleticism to put the ball in at a deep free-kick, Wing forced a near-post save from Ryan Schofield and Wes Harding's shot hit Hogg.

With the visitors dictating, Huddersfield had to rely on the counter-attack. Their chances looked better when the brought Sorba Thomas on to play high up the field as a wing-back but for all he looked promising when he ran with the ball, then end product was never there.

Wing was in fine form and nearly rewarded for it in the 61st minute. His free-kick was far enough that Schofield anticipated a cross and was unable to get across when the midfielder shot instead, only to hit the bar.

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Naby Sarr appeared to shove Richard Wood in the penalty area as he chased a Cooks flick-on, but referee Lee Mason was not interested.

Schofield saved from Wing and Johansson from Sanogo at a corner Terriers substitute Scott High did well to win, but the second effort was out of character with the game.

When Bacuna broke in the 78th minute he had Thomas outside and O'Brien in an even better position inside, but overhit the simple pass.

Wiles should have won it late on but when Michael Smith picked him out at the far post, he inexplicably missed the target.

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It was not to be Rotherham's day. They have made their three-game week even harder, without making Huddersfield's life much easier.

Huddersfield Town: Schofield; Edmonds-Green, Keogh, Sarr, Pipa (Thomas 53); Hogg, O'Brien; Bacuna (High 82), Holmes (Mbenza 82), Campbell (Ward 74); Sanogo.

Unused substitutes: Stearman, Aarons, Brown, Rowe, Pereira.

Rotherham United: Johansson; Olosunde (Giles 74), Ihiekwe, Wood, A MacDonald, Harding; Wiles, Lindsay (Barlaser 82), Wing; Crooks; Smith.

Unused substitutes: S MacDonald, Hirst, Ladapo, Ogbene, Sadlier, Blackman, Jozefzoon.

Referee: L Mason (Bolton).

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