Grimsby held on for a goalless draw with Rotherham despite having George Santos and Paul Raven sent off.

Santos, playing for a new contract with his current deal set to expire next week, had the first shot of the game in the seventh minute - but his effort blazed over the crossbar.

The Mariners had Steve Livingstone in the starting line-up for the first time since he was carried off against Derby in mid-August with a serious head injury, and the former Blackburn striker was looking to put himself about up front.

Player-manager Paul Groves also welcomed back defender Tony Gallimore from suspension, Terry Cooke the man to miss out.

Rotherham manager Ronnie Moore was forced to hand first league starts of the season to Marvin Bryan and Guy Branston in place of suspended defenders Rob Scott and Chris Swailes.

The Millers had gone four games without a win after an impressive start to the season and looked out of sorts as Grimsby had the better of the early exchanges.

But Santos' determination to impress completely changed the game and put Grimsby on the back foot midway through the half.

In the 23rd minute the former Sheffield United man was booked for a foul on Alan Lee - and two minutes later he was dismissed after reacting to a bad challenge from Darren Garner.

Santos' rashness meant Livingstone's return lasted only 28 minutes before Groves had to haul him off and bring on Stacy Coldicott.

Raven quickly became the next man to be shown a yellow card after a rash challenge on Lee as the game threatened to boil over.

Down to 10 men, Grimsby were forced to play on the break - but they still managed to busy visiting goalkeeper Mike Pollitt a couple of times as half-time approached.

First Simon Ford got on the end of Alan Pouton's cross to force Pollitt into action and then Steve Kabba tested the goalkeeper from 25 yards.

Seven minutes into the second half Grimsby were down to nine men when Raven was shown his second yellow of the afternoon - again for a foul on Lee, who a couple of minutes earlier had himself been booked.

Paul Warne became the fourth visiting player into the book in the 62nd minute for a foul on Stuart Campbell. But with a two-man advantage the visitors began to take control, Darren Byfield and Nick Daws both going close with headers.

Moore threw on all three substitutes in an attempt to take the points, and one of them - former Manchester United striker Mark Robins -tested Danny Coyne from the edge of the area with a low drive.