Winless run continues for Mansfield Town in goalless draw at struggling Rotherham United

The Millers will be happier with the point, being stuck in the relegation zone, while a tired-looking Stags will see this as a missed opportunity to edge themselves closer to safety.

A turgid first half saw Mansfield have the edge and create the better moments with only one real save made by the home keeper.

There were half chances at both ends after the break, but in the end this is not a game that will live long in the memory as all focus now turns to Saturday's huge FA Cup fifth round tie at home to Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Nigel Clough again freshened things up with five changes from the weekend.

Elliott Hewitt, George Abbott, Luke Bolton, Oliver Irow and Rhys Oates came in for Kyle Knoyle, Stephen McLaughlin, Regan Hendry, Tyler Roberts and Victor Adeboyejo.

It was a full debut for Spurs loanee Abbott, who has been making steady progress shaking off an injury since arriving in the January window.

Ironically, Rotherham play in the same red and white kit the Gunners usually play in.

A scrappy start by both sides was halted on 13 minutes when Bolton required treatment and had to be withdrawn and replaced by Evans.

Both sides continued to give the ball away in a contest low on quality or excitement.

On 25 minutes Evans was almost sent clear by Oates but denied by an offside flag.

But we had the first goal attempt a minute later as Russell strode forward and tried to fnd the top left corner from 20 yards, forcing a good save out of Cann.

On 28 minutes Russell recycled a cross from the right and Oates got up well only to flick his header over the top.

Six minutes later Russell shot low from 18 yards out, after Evans had won the ball from Gray, but Cann was comfortably behind it.

James then got in a good block as Evans controlled in the box and tried to shoot on the half volley.

Stags came very close on 43 minutes as Evans volleyed a cross right across goal, just too hard for Akins to reach and Abbott only able to head wide at the far post at full stretch as the sides went in all square.

Abbot was replaced by Hendry for the second half.

Within 30 seconds Gray had gone down in the box under Oshilaja's challenge but the Millers man was shown a yellow card for his simulation.

Rotherham then had two quick chances on 50 minutes as a close range header from Nombe was blocked before Akins made an important block on a shot from James.

Roberts had to then save well from a Gray shot that deflected off the heel of Hewitt on 55 minutes and a Martha shot was easily gathered soon after as the home side tried to force the issue.

Hewitt was booked for a foul on Gray before Roberts went down 'injured' to give Stags chance for a 'time-out' word from the manager with United on top in the early stages of the half.

Russell set up Irow for a shot that was blocked and, as the ball was cleared out the box, Hendry smashed it well over the bar.

A great ball from Russell released Oates down the right on 73 minutes and Jules was rightly booked for barging him over as he tried to race clear of him.

Before the free kick could be taken, Tyler Roberts replaced Irow.

Hendry finally pulled the free kick back low for Reed and Nombe did well to hook his low finish over for a corner.

With three minutes left McLaughlin and Lewis took over from Oates and Russell.

Roberts claimed an 89th minute free kick superbly well under intense pressure before, at the other end, Tyler Roberts caused chaos with some good footwork but when the ball rolled back to him he fired first time well over.

Blake-Tracy appeared to handle in the box in added time but the referee decided he had been pushed and gave the decision the other way.

In the fourth added minute Blake-Tracy nodded down a Reed free kick and Evans fired first time at the keeper.

A minute later the ball bounced up in the Stags box as Blake-Tracy missed his kick and it again hit his hand and again no penalty was given to Rotherham's fury.

ROTHERHAM: Cann, Rafferty (Cover 88), Jules (Kelly 78), James, Nombe, Martha (Biancheri 88), Baptiste, Yearwood (McWilliams HT), Watmore (Agbaire HT), Gray, Gore. SUBS NOT USED: Dawson, Sousa.

STAGS: Roberts, Akins, Oshilaja, Blake-Tracy, Hewitt, Reed, Abbott (Hendry HT), Bolton (Evans 13), Russell (A. Lewis 87), Irow (T. Roberts 74), Oates (McLaughlin 87). SUBS NOT USED: Knoyle, Adeboyejo.

REFEREE: Scott Oldham.

ATTENDANCE: 9,243 (2,162 away).