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Preview: Rotherham United vs. Norwich City - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 31 August 2023, 07:36
Two teams at opposite ends of the Championship table face off at the New York Stadium on Saturday as lowly Rotherham United entertain in-form Norwich City.

The Millers suffered a 6-1 EFL Cup thrashing at the hands of Stoke City on Tuesday, while the Canaries extended their hot streak with a 1-0 victory over Bristol City.

Match preview

Despite racking up 13 shots at the bet365 Stadium in midweek, Rotherham United endured a 6-1 crushing against Stoke City in the second round of the EFL Cup, conceding four first-half goals to end their hopes of progressing before the break.

Tuesday's thrashing followed successive 2-1 defeats against Sunderland and Leicester City in the league, meaning that Matt Taylor's men head into Saturday's clash on a three-game losing run across all competitions.

When you look at the bigger picture, the Millers have failed to win any of their six matches in normal time this season, with the South Yorkshire outfit requiring a penalty shootout to get past League Two side Morecambe in the first round of the EFL Cup.

It is also worth noting that Rotherham possess the worst defensive record in the Championship, having conceded 10 goals in four games, while only bottom club Sheffield Wednesday have picked up fewer points than Taylor's side.

After experiencing three promotions and three relegations since 2016-17, Rotherham look set for another topsy-turvy campaign as they battle to beat the drop once again.

By contrast, Norwich City have enjoyed a hugely impressive start to the season under the guidance of new manager David Wagner, picking up five wins and one draw in six matches across all competitions.

Thanks to a record of three victories and one draw in the league, the Canaries find themselves second in the Championship standings with the best offensive record in the division, having already scored 13 goals this term.

After kicking off their campaign with a 2-1 victory over Hull City, the Norfolk club served up a wild 4-4 draw with Southampton before claiming a 3-1 win against Millwall, with a 4-0 thrashing of Huddersfield Town coming last weekend.

Josh Sargent, Ashley Barnes, Adam Idah and Jonathan Rowe all found the back of the net last weekend, with the latter scoring for the fifth successive match, meaning that Rowe has netted five goals in as many games this season.

Norwich extended their unbeaten start to the campaign with a 1-0 victory over Bristol City in the second round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday, so the Canaries will be brimming with confidence as they prepare to travel to South Yorkshire.

Rotherham United Championship form:

Rotherham United form (all competitions):

L

W

D

L

L

L

Norwich City Championship form:

Norwich City form (all competitions):

W

D

W

W

W

W

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Team News

With Shane Ferguson (hernia), Grant Hall (hamstring), Jamie Lindsay (Achilles) and Lee Peltier (calf) all sidelined through injury, Rotherham United are without a number of key players at the moment.

Matt Taylor is expected to stick with his favoured 4-4-2 formation, meaning that Jordan Hugill and Ciaran McGuckin will start in attack, while former Nottingham Forest pair Arvin Appiah and Cafu should feature in midfield.

As for Norwich City, David Wagner has confirmed that American forward Josh Sargent will be out for "months" with a "serious" ankle injury, meaning that Adam Idah will likely lead the line for the foreseeable future.

Sargent joins Grant Hanley (Achilles), Onel Hernandez (knee), Borja Sainz (ankle), Jacob Lungi Sorensen (groin) and Jonathan Tomkinson (ankle) on Norwich's injury list.

Having bagged five goals in five appearances this term, 20-year-old academy product Jonathan Rowe will feature being the striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Gabriel Sara and Kenny McLean anchoring the midfield.

Rotherham United possible starting lineup:

Phillips; Bola, Morrison, McCart, Bramall; Appiah, Humprheys, Cafu, Green; McGuckin, Hugill

Norwich City possible starting lineup:

Gunn; Stacey, Duffy, Gibson, Giannoulis; McLean, Sara; Fassnacht, Barnes, Rowe; Idah

We say: Rotherham United 0-3 Norwich City

While unbeaten Norwich are the top scorers in the Championship, winless Rotherham have the worst defensive record in the division.

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