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

While the Millers occupy 13th spot in the standings with a fixture in hand, Blues are down in 19th position after a three-game winless streak.

Match preview

After becoming the yo-yo club in the English football pyramid, Rotherham will be delighted if they can end the season sitting in 21st place and having avoided relegation.

That said, Paul Warne will currently feel that his new-look side have the potential for more with six points coming from their opening four matches.

Although three of those games have ended in draws, being undefeated in the second tier at this stage is above expectations, and optimism is high that more points can be accumulated against Birmingham.

Goals remain an issue, however, with four of their six efforts coming against Reading and the club going down by a 1-0 scoreline at home to Morecambe in the EFL Cup in midweek.

Nevertheless, that disappointment will only further motivate this side to get back on track against opponents who may emerge as rivals later in the season.

Like their hosts, Birmingham will be content with survival this season given everything that has occurred behind the scenes in recent times.

John Eustace will naturally be hoping for better, but this is a Blues outfit that have only won once in six attempts in all competitions this campaign.

The West Midlands outfit blew the perfect opportunity to shoot up the table last time out, losing 1-0 to a Wigan Athletic side which played with 10 men from the 10th minute onwards.

Birmingham currently possess the joint-second worst attacking record in the division and that will need to change if they want to move away from trouble.

Rotherham United Championship form:

Rotherham United form (all competitions):

Birmingham City Championship form:

Birmingham City form (all competitions):

Team News

Despite their relatively-early withdrawals at Loftus Road, Rotherham duo Lee Peltier and Shane Ferguson could get the nod at wing-back after not starting in the EFL Cup.

Barring any injuries from that fixture and midweek, the starting lineup from the draw at QPR could stay the same.

After witnessing his side fail to score against 10-man Wigan, Eustace will likely make changes to his Blues XI.

Troy Deeney will expect to be recalled to the attack, while Jonathan Leko may be given an outing if Eustace opts for a more attack-minded setup.

Marc Roberts and Gary Gardner feature on a lengthy injury list for Birmingham.

Rotherham United possible starting lineup:

Johansson; Wood, Hall, Humphreys; Peltier, Wiles, Barlaser, Rathbone, Ferguson; Washington, Ogbene

Birmingham City possible starting lineup:

Ruddy; Colin, Sanderson, Trusty; Williams, Bacuna, James, Hall, Placheta; Hogan, Deeney

We say: Rotherham United 0-0 Birmingham City

Aside from Rotherham's goal glut against Reading, they have been equally as poor as Birmingham in the final third. With that in mind, we are going to predict a dour stalemate at the New York Stadium, a result which both teams would accept given their objectives for the season.

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