Team match high flying Millers.
At the other end, Sanchez Watt had a goal belatedly disallowed for a foul on keeper Adam Collin, whilst he hit the bar in the second half with a rising shot thar cracked off the woodwork.
The Millers came to Colchester on a run that had seen them score six at the weekend and win seven of their last nine, drawing the others, but they couldn't find a way past a strong U's defence.
Colchester United fought back from three defeats to match high-flying Rotherham in their rearranged game on Tuesday night. Rotherham kicked off the opening half on the back of an impressive six goal win in their previous game, and with four goals in the reverse fixture between the two teams a goalfest looked likely.
However both teams failed to really test the goalkeepers with only routine saves to be made.
Colchester had the better of the opening period with Ryan Dickson and Freddie Sears looking lively and with Sanchez Watt returning from suspension the U’s attack looked lethal.
Dickson impressed going forward with a few darting runs into the box but his final ball let him down, whilst at the other end Lee Frecklington set up Ben Pringle for a shot which was blocked well.
Sears nearly created two great chances for the U’s, the first of which came from a quick throw which he took down, fizzing the ball across goal but Sanchez Watt was too slow to react.
The next chance saw Sears’ deflected cross dropped by Adam Collin underpressure, Sanchez Watt this time was quick enough to tap the ball in but referee Malone gave a foul on the Millers’ Keeper.
This was to be the referee’s last decision to make as he made way still suffering from a tumble he took early in the half, his replacement was the fourth official Mr F Graham.
The half closed out with Miller’s top scorer Keiran Agard having the final chance which was hit straight at Sam Walker who saved comfortably.
Both teams came out with more attacking intent and the opening ten minutes saw better chances than the entire previous half had.
First Agard created some space in the box but the acrobatic effort was high and wide. Newcastle loanee Haris Vuckic was next to have a go but his low powerful shot was well held by Walker.
Colchester reacted well to the pressure and pushed high up the pitch creating chances of their own but shots from Clinton Morrison and Sears didn’t trouble Collin.
The attacking play from both teams completely opened the game and Walker was soon called back into action having to keep out efforts from Agard and Alex Revell.
A clever ball from Gavin Massey on the turn put through David Wright who’s over hit cross fell to Watt, but leaning back his shot thundered off of the crossbar.
Substitutes Dom Vose and Macauley Bonne replaced Massey and Sears but it was Rotherham who entered the final fifteen minutes creating the better chances.
Frecklington burst into the box but has hunted down by Marcus Bean whose sliding tackle prevented a shot. Just minutes later Nicky Adams was in a similar position to score but volleyed well over.
A series of late corners tested the Colchester defence to their limits with but Joe Dunne’s side held on against the Rotherham pressure to secure a valuable point.