Bristol City remain without a win at Rotherham for 23 years after a goalless draw with the injury-hit hosts at the New York Stadium.
Skipper Richard Wood pulled up in the warm-up to take the Millers’ number of absentees to eight, leaving boss Paul Warne with just five substitutes for their second home clash in four days.
But the Robins failed to take advantage of their opponents’ problems, despite replacements Marley Watkins and Jamie Paterson hitting the woodwork, to leave them without a victory at Rotherham since a 3-2 Division Two triumph in 1995.
Michael Smith missed United’s best chance to score, heading over from close range in the second half.
Rotherham were made to reshuffle their pack shortly before kick-off due to Wood’s injury, meaning Jon Taylor started and midfielder Will Vaulks dropped into defence.
But the hosts brushed aside any early adversity to begin on the front foot, with Ryan Williams shooting low at Niki Maenpaa and then heading wide in the opening 11 minutes.
City felt aggrieved not to be awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box after Vaulks, caught out of position by a superb Andreas Weimann through ball, appeared to foul Famara Diedhiou.
The striker’s frustration continued minutes later as he swept home Josh Brownhill’s cross, only for the offside flag to go up.
Joe Newell almost created a moment of magic for Rotherham, producing a deft touch to lob a defender and having a left-footed volley deflected wide for a corner, which led to Smith drilling off target.
The Millers were looking the more threatening and Vaulks was denied by a sprawling Maenpaa when rising highest at the back post from a Newell corner.
Smith missed a glorious chance to break the deadlock in the 52nd minute, failing to direct his header on target from Newell’s cross.
City hit back and Diedhiou fired straight at goalkeeper Marek Rodak, who then parried Watkins’ low drive.
Jack Hunt saw a fizzed drive deflected wide and, after Newell volleyed into Maenpaa’s hands at the other end, Watkins wasted three attempts to score in an almighty goalmouth scramble.
The former Barnsley winger broke the offside trap and was first denied by Rodak, then Matt Palmer before stabbing a third effort against a post after 71 minutes.
Rotherham still caused problems for the visitors and Williams, having got around the back of the defence, could not beat Maenpaa.
But City almost won late on as Paterson curled an effort against the crossbar with Rodak beaten.
Robins boss Lee Johnson, constantly in the fourth official’s ear, was shown a yellow card in added time for protesting at a decision that went against his side.
