Match ends, Birmingham City 0, Millwall 0.
BirminghamBirmingham City0MillwallMillwall0
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."
Line-ups
Birmingham
Formation 3-4-3
- 30Etheridge
- 4Roberts
- 12Dean
- 5Friend
- 2Colin
- 17Sánchez
- 19San José
- 3Pedersen
- 14LekoBooked at 28minsSubstituted forBelaat 78'minutes
- 10Jutkiewicz
- 34SunjicBooked at 79mins
Substitutes
- 1Prieto
- 6Kieftenbeld
- 9Hogan
- 11Bela
- 15Clarke-Salter
- 18McGree
- 20Gardner
- 23Toral
- 25Dacres-Cogley
Millwall
Formation 3-4-3
- 33Bialkowski
- 4Hutchinson
- 15Pearce
- 5Cooper
- 26Skalak
- 18Leonard
- 19Woods
- 3M Wallace
- 7J WallaceBooked at 21minsSubstituted forThompsonat 87'minutes
- 22BödvarssonSubstituted forBradshawat 87'minutes
- 25ParrottSubstituted forSmithat 63'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Fielding
- 6Williams
- 8Thompson
- 9Bradshaw
- 10Smith
- 11Ferguson
- 14Malone
- 17Brown
- 32Burey
- Referee:
- Andy Woolmer
Match Stats
Home TeamBirminghamAway TeamMillwall
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away1
- Corners
- Home3
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home16
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Birmingham City 0, Millwall 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Mikel San José (Birmingham City) header from the left side of the six yard box misses to the right. Assisted by Jérémie Bela with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Tom Bradshaw.
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Corner, Millwall. Conceded by Neil Etheridge.
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Attempt saved. Murray Wallace (Millwall) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Alex Pearce.
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Attempt missed. Shaun Hutchinson (Millwall) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Ryan Woods with a cross following a set piece situation.
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Foul by Mikel San José (Birmingham City).
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Jiri Skalak (Millwall) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Kristian Pedersen (Birmingham City).
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Tom Bradshaw (Millwall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt saved. Marc Roberts (Birmingham City) header from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Iván Sánchez with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Murray Wallace.
Substitution
Substitution, Millwall. Tom Bradshaw replaces Jón Dadi Bödvarsson because of an injury.
Substitution
Substitution, Millwall. Ben Thompson replaces Jed Wallace.
Post update
Mikel San José (Birmingham City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Jón Dadi Bödvarsson (Millwall).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jón Dadi Bödvarsson (Millwall) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ryan Leonard.
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Attempt missed. Jérémie Bela (Birmingham City) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Kristian Pedersen with a cross.
Post update
Foul by Lukas Jutkiewicz (Birmingham City).
