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

While the hosts are looking to end a four-game winless run in the second tier, the visitors are hoping to avoid a third successive league defeat.

Match preview

A week on from claiming a respectable point in a 1-1 draw with high-flying Preston North End, Rotherham suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat away against Cardiff City last Saturday.

Matt Taylor's men failed to register a single shot on target and were ultimately put to the sword by the Bluebirds courtesy of second-half strikes from Kion Etete and Perry Ng, suffering their sixth successive away defeat of the new season in all competitions.

The Millers have now lost six of their first nine Championship matches this term and remain 23rd in the table, three points above basement club Sheffield Wednesday and four points adrift of safety.

Rotherham may struggle to end their poor run of form on Wednesday, as they have only won two of their last nine meetings with Bristol City and lost both home and away encounters with the Robins last season.

Their home form bodes well ahead of the midweek clash, though, as they have picked up five points from four Championship games at the New York Stadium, with league leaders Leicester City the only team to beat the Millers on home soil so far this season.

Bristol City, meanwhile, have experienced an inconsistent start to the new Championship season, winning, drawing and losing three games each, while scoring 11 goals and conceding 10 in the process.

However, the Robins have had little to smile about in the last two weeks as they followed up a slender 1-0 loss at Leicester with a 3-2 defeat at home to Stoke City, a game in which they let a two-goal lead slip.

Indeed, goals from Sam Bell and Nakhi Wells initially put the hosts in control of proceedings at Ashton Gate, but Stoke pulled one back just five minutes later through Mehdi Leris, before second-half goals from Sead Haksabanovic and Nathan Lowe, the latter netting an 89th-minute winner, completed the turnaround in dramatic fashion.

Nigel Pearson's men currently sit 11th in the Championship table, six points clear of Wednesday's opponents Rotherham and four points behind the playoffs, and the Robins will welcome an away trip in midweek considering they have already picked up seven of their 12 points on the road this term.

Bristol City secured a 3-1 win against Rotherham in their last visit to the New York Stadium in December last year before claiming a 2-1 home victory over the Millers in April this year, and another success on Wednesday would see the Robins win three in a row against the South Yorkshire club for the first time since April 1996.

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Bristol City Championship form:

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Team News

Rotherham defender Cameron Humphreys is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines and may require surgery after sustaining a hamstring injury just over a week ago, while Sean Morrison, Grant Hall, Jamie Lindsay, Shane Ferguson and Cafu are also in the treatment room.

Lee Peltier made his first appearance since scoring on the opening weekend of the new season as a second-half substitute last weekend after recovering from a calf problem, and the veteran defender is in contention to play at centre-back or right-back on Wednesday.

Sam Clucas, Christ Tiehi and Oliver Rathbone could all retain their places in centre-midfield, while Sam Nombe and Tom Eaves will battle with Andre Green for start in attack alongside Jordan Hugill, who has scored four goals in his last three appearances against Bristol City.

As for the Robins, Rob Atkinson and Ayman Benarous are both ruled out with ACL injuries, while Ross McCrorie is still recovering from a bacterial infection.

Pearson's side were boosted by the return of Tommy Conway last weekend, with the striker coming on as a second-half substitute after recovering earlier than expected from a hamstring injury, and he will likely battle with Wells for a start up front on Wednesday.

Taylor Gardner-Hickman will be pushing to replace George Tanner at right-back, while attacking trio Andreas Weimann, Harry Cornick and Anis Mehmeti will all be hoping to force their way into the first XI after beginning as substitutes last time out.

Rotherham United possible starting lineup:

Johansson; Lembikisa, Blackett, Bramall; Onyedinma, Clucas, Tiehi, Rathbone, Revan; Nombe, Hugill

Bristol City possible starting lineup:

O'Leary; Gardner-Hickman, Dickie, Naismith, Pring; Knight, James, Williams; Sykes, Wells, Bell

We say: Rotherham United 1-2 Bristol City

Rotherham are the joint-third lowest scorers in the Championship (eight) so far this season, but six of those goals have been netted across four home games, which bodes well in their quest to come out on top against another out-of-sorts side in the form of Bristol City.

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