Dean Gerken saved an early Danny Ward penalty with Town’s game against Rotherham United at the New York Stadium remaining 0-0 at half-time.

Mick McCarthy made nine changes for a game which had nothing riding on it with only skipper Luke Chambers and left-back Myles Kenlock remaining from the team which beat Newcastle United 3-1 on Monday.

Gerken returned in goal with Tommy Smith partnering Chambers at the centre of the defence and Josh Emmanuel at right-back.

In midfield, Teddy Bishop joined Toumani Diagouraga in central midfield, while Andre Dozzell was to their left and Danny Rowe made his full Town debut on the right of a front three. On-loan Reading man Samuel was also handed his full debut up front along with Brett Pitman.

Former Town keeper Lewis Price was on the bench for the Millers, while defender Semi Ajayi, who had a trial with the Blues in 2015, was among the starters.

Grant Ward, who was amongst the Town subs, was warmly applauded by the New York Stadium faithful when his named was announced prior to kick-off having spent last season on loan with at Rotherham.

Neither side had threatened until the seventh minute when the home side were awarded a penalty by referee Jeremy Simpson, who gave three the last time he took charge of a Blues match, the 2-1 loss at Reading in September.

Danny Ward, a January Town target, won a battle for a ball into the area with Chambers and laid it off to Jon Taylor, who was clumsily bundled over by Josh Emmanuel. The official looked to have got it right.

Ward took what was his side’s first spotkick of the season and slammed it low to Gerken’s left but the Blues glovesman, making only his fifth start of the season, got across superbly and stuck out a strong arm to keep it out, much to the delight of the visiting fans behind his goal.

Two minutes later, Ward played a ball for Tom Adeyemi to chase but Emmanuel held him off and Gerken claimed.

On 14 the Town keeper comfortably dealt with a Taylor strike at the far post with Rotherham having started strongly, despite missing the chance to go in front from the spot.

However, the Blues were beginning to pass the ball around in spells and two minutes later, Samuel won a freekick just outside the area but which ultimately came to nothing.

Rotherham continued to create opportunities at the other end and on 21 Gerken failed to punch a ball lofted back into the area after a corner and Chambers and Smith made important blocks from Adeyemi and Ajayi before Kenlock eventually cleared the danger.

Dozzell had by now moved inside with Bishop on the left and was starting to see more of the ball. In the 23rd minute Ajayi did well to cut out a clever through ball for Samuel.

On 34 Carlton Morris shot well over for the Millers but three minutes later the Blues went close to going in front.

Dozzell fed Rowe to his right and the January signing from Macclesfield cut in and hit a low shot which Rotherham keeper Richard O’Donnell saved well down to his left. The loose ball fell to Samuel at a tight angle and the on-loan Royal smashed the rebound against the bar.

Town, with Dozzell beginning to pull the strings with increasing confidence in the centre of midfield, were getting on top and starting to press for a goal as half-time approached.

In the final moments of one minute of injury time Rotherham striker Ward pulled up as he chased a ball alongside Smith with what appeared to be a pulled hamstring.

Much-changed Town had take a while to settle and would have been behind but for Gerken’s excellent penalty save.

The Millers had one or two more chances before the Blues began to take charge in the latter stages with Rowe and then Samuel both unfortunate not to have scored.

Rotherham: O’Donnell, Fisher, Ajayi, Wood, Mattock, Adeyemi, Smallwood, Vaulks, Taylor, Morris, Ward. Subs: Price, Forde, Clarke-Harris, Newell, Belaid, Bray, Purrington.

Town: Gerken, Emmanuel, Chambers (c), T Smith, Kenlock, Diagouraga, Bishop, Dozzell, Rowe, Samuel, Pitman. Subs: Bialkowski, Skuse, Digby, Bru, Ward, Sears, Moore. Referee: Jeremy Simpson (Lancashire).

Photo: TWTD

jas0999 added 16:11 - Apr 22 Little more than a ore season friendly. Good opportunity to take a look at fringe players and those who still could win a deal
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midastouch added 16:35 - Apr 22 Been listening on the Radio and sounds like some of them haven't really staked a major claim. Samuel has sounded reasonable lively but Bishop and Dozzell have been quiet. Although I think Dozzell got moved out to the wing which isn't his favoured position but was still hoping for a bit more.
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therein61 added 17:17 - Apr 22 Whoops Gerks saved a penalty that's Bart beggared then.
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