Preview: Rotherham United vs. Huddersfield Town - prediction, team news, lineups

New Rotherham head coach Matt Taylor is searching for his first win at the club, whereas Mark Fotheringham managed his maiden victory with Huddersfield last time out against Hull City.

Match preview

After an impressive opening to the campaign that saw them inside the playoff positions in late August, Rotherham are enduring a difficult run of form that coincides with the departure of former head coach Paul Warne to Derby County.

The Millers have dropped down to 18th in the Championship after recording a single win in their last seven outings, and fears of a second tier relegation battle are once again becoming a harsh reality for supporters.

Despite this, the South Yorkshire side can take confidence from their outstanding home record heading into this fixture, with the hosts only losing once at the AESSEAL New York Stadium so far this term, a run which includes a 4-0 thrashing of high-flying Reading and a 3-0 success over Blackpool.

Irish frontman Chiedozie Ogbene is likely to be a handful for the Huddersfield defence, with the 25-year-old Rotherham's top scorer so far with four goals in the league.

Huddersfield Town will hope they are at the start of a climb up the Championship table following a first win for Fotheringham at home to Hull last weekend.

A Lewie Coyle own goal and a strike from Michal Helik earned the Terriers their first maximum under the new coaching setup, but they still sit 23rd in the Championship after a woeful opening to the season under Danny Schofield.

Thirty-eight-year-old Fotheringham shares a German coaching background with a certain David Wagner, who oversaw Town's promotion to the Premier League in the 2016-17 season.

Any repeat of that achievement this year however seems wildly optimistic, with the ex-Hertha Berlin assistant coach's first task to steer the squad away from trouble at the wrong end of the table.

Huddersfield will have to make improvements on their away form if they are to pick up anything for their efforts on Saturday, with the team only collecting a single point from five league outings so far this season, making them the joint-worst travellers in the division.

Rotherham United Championship form:

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Huddersfield Town Championship form:

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Team News

Richard Wood is expected to return to the Rotherham side after the defender was omitted from the squad that lost 3-0 at Blackburn Rovers in order for him to "physically reload".

Lee Peltier is the obvious candidate to make way for 37-year-old Wood, who will complete a back three with Grant Hall and Wes Harding.

Connor Washington is likely to partner the tricky Ogbene in the Millers attack, with that particular partnership starting 11 of the opening 12 league games together.

Peter Kioso remains sidelined with a groin injury sustained against Reading meaning Brooke Norton-Cuffy will continue in a right wing-back role in this one.

Huddersfield midfielder Tino Anjorin is a doubt after going down with glandular fever at the start of the month. The Chelsea loanee has not appeared in any of the last three matchday squads and could take time to build up to full fitness after the illness.

Long-serving midfielder Jonathan Hogg is yet to be re-introduced into the team after a calf strain even though Fotheringham was hopeful he could feature against Luton Town and Hull most recently.

Sorba Thomas is one yellow card away from a suspension, whereas David Kasumu is available to rival Jack Rudoni for selection after he served a one-match ban following seeing red at Luton.

Rotherham United possible starting lineup:

Johansson; Harding, Hall, Wood; Norton-Cuffy, Wiles, Barlaser, Rathbone, Bramall; Washington, Ogbene

Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:

Nicholls; Lees, Helik, Nakayama; Thomas, Rudoni, Camara, Jackson, Holmes; Ward, Rhodes

We say: Rotherham United 1-2 Huddersfield Town

Rotherham boast a decent home record so far this year, but are sliding down the Championship table following the departure of Paul Warne.

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