Birmingham City 0-0 Rotherham: Wayne Rooney’s struggles continue as Blues play out goalless draw with Championship strugglers

Wayne Rooney said some of his Birmingham City players ‘need to grow a pair of balls’ as the Blues were held to a 0-0 draw at home to strugglers Rotherham United.

With minority owner Tom Brady in attendance, the pressure on the ex-Manchester United striker increased as his side could not break down a stubborn Rotherham side who are yet to win on the road this season. Rooney and his players were booed at the end of this below-par performance.

Rooney, with only one win in eight games since taking charge at St Andrew’s, said: ‘I thought we started the game really well for 20 minutes.

‘But we got sloppy, we got slow and we created a lot of our own problems. We were probably fortunate in the end to come away with a point. We haven’t won the game because we got complacent.

‘A lot of things we need to address, basics of the game like heading the ball, it was not there today.’

Birmingham have picked up just five points in eight games since Wayne Rooney took charge

Rotherham caretaker boss Wayne Carlisle was pleased with the performance despite the draw

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Rooney also bemoaned a lack of leadership in his side.

‘I saw Sean Morrison come on for them and he did more talking today than my whole back four, which is an issue,’ he said.

Interim Rotherham manager Wayne Carlisle said: ‘I’m pleased with the performance but I’m slightly disappointed that we didn’t come out with the three points.’