Preview: Rotherham United vs. Blackburn Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

The two sides are separated by 15 points and 18 places in the second-tier standings, with Rovers sitting in third place and the Millers down in 21st.

Match preview

Rotherham saw their winless run extended to seven matches across all competitions after they were comprehensively beaten 4-1 away against Ipswich Town in the FA Cup third round last weekend.

Conor Washington restored parity from the penalty spot just two minutes after the break to provide the travelling Millers supporters with hope of a comeback. However, three goals in the final 15 minutes, including a strike from former Rotherham man Freddie Ladapo, helped the League One outfit secure their place in the fourth round.

Matt Taylor has now lost 10 of his 17 games as Rotherham boss since replacing Paul Warne in October and the pressure is beginning to mount on the 40-year-old, with his side struggling at the wrong end of the Championship table.

Indeed, a 3-0 loss away at Millwall on New Year's Day has seen the Millers slip to 21st in the table, just one point above the relegation zone where they could end up at the end of this weekend if they fail to beat Blackburn.

Rotherham head into Saturday's clash having won only one of their last 12 league meetings against Blackburn and suffered a 3-0 defeat in the reverse fixture at Ewood Park in October.

Unlike Rotherham, Blackburn managed to progress to the FA Cup fourth round courtesy of a slender 1-0 away win at Norwich City on Sunday, with Jack Vale - returning from injury - scoring the only goal of the game just after the half-hour mark.

Jon Dahl Tomasson's side now turn their attention back to the Championship and they are still the only team in England's top four divisions who are yet to draw so far this campaign, winning 14 and losing 12 of their 26 league matches.

Indeed, their 1-0 victory away at Cardiff City on New Year's Day equalled Bolton Wanderers' second-tier record of 26 successive games without a draw back in 1934-35; either a win or defeat on Saturday will see Rovers break the all-time record.

A run of five defeats in their last eight league matches has seen Blackburn's hopes of securing an automatic promotion spot slip away, as they now sit nine points behind Sheffield United in second and 14 points adrift of Burnley at the summit.

Blackburn's recent wins over Cardiff and Norwich will given them confidence ahead of Saturday's trip to Rotherham, although they head to the New York Stadium having failed to win each of their last four visits to the Millers.

Rotherham United Championship form:

D

L

L

D

L

L

Rotherham United form (all competitions):

L

L

D

L

L

L

Blackburn Rovers Championship form:

L

L

W

L

L

W

Blackburn Rovers form (all competitions):

W

L

L

L

W

W

Team News

Rotherham quartet Tom Eaves, Ben Wiles, Georgie Kelly and Grant Hall all remain sidelined with injuries, but Lee Peltier has returned to training this week and is in contention to start, as is Chiedozie Ogbene who came on for the final 20 minutes against Ipswich after recovering from an ankle problem.

The Millers could hand a debut to January additions Sean Morrison and Leo Hjelde - the former arriving on a free transfer from Cardiff and the latter joining on loan from Leeds United - with both players pushing to start in defence.

Brooke Norton-Cuffy has left the club to join Coventry on loan from Arsenal, so either Peter Kioso or Wes Harding is set to start at right wing-back.

As for Blackburn, Callum Brittain remains out with a medial collateral ligament problem, while Tyrhys Dolan and Sam Szmodics are hoping to return from injury before the end of this month.

Tomasson is unlikely to make too many changes to his starting lineup, but he may consider recalling Ryan Hedges and Tyler Morton who both began on the substitutes' bench against Norwich.

Ben Brereton Diaz - who has been directly involved in six more league goals than any other Rovers player so far this season (nine goals and four assists) - is expected to support either Vale or Sam Gallagher in attack.

Rotherham United possible starting lineup:

Johansson; Peltier, Wood, Morrison; Kioso, Rathbone, Barlaser, Lindsay, Bramall; Washington, Ogbene

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:

Kaminski; Rankin-Costello, S. Wharton, Hyam, Pickering; Morton, Travis; Hedges, Dack, Brereton Diaz; Vale

We say: Rotherham United 1-3 Blackburn Rovers

The momentum is with Blackburn heading into Saturday's contest, with Tomasson's side aiming to win a third successive match across all competitions.

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