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

The hosts are currently propping up the Championship table, while the visitors are sitting in 11th position in the standings.

Match preview

Following his appointment as Rotherham boss earlier this month, Leam Richardson is already fully aware of the task that lies in front of him after overseeing three consecutive defeats, including a 3-0 loss in Friday's clash with league leaders Leicester City.

Rotherham managed to keep the Foxes at bay in the first period, but three goals in the space of 12 second-half minutes saw the Millers fall to a heavy away defeat, which extended their winless away run to 11 matches.

With 13 points to their name after 23 matches, the basement side are nine points adrift of safety at the halfway mark of the Championship season.

If they are to close that sizeable gap, the Millers will need to improve at both ends of the pitch, having conceded more goals than any other side in the division, while they are also the joint-second lowest scorers in the second tier.

While Rotherham have claimed just two league wins this season, they can draw inspiration from the 1-0 victory they recorded in their most recent home meeting with Middlesbrough in May 2023.

In contrast to their hosts, Boro head into the Boxing Day fixture in a confident mood after putting together a three-game winning run across all competitions.

They kickstarted that positive spell of results with a 2-1 win over Swansea City, before they thrashed third-tier Port Vale 3-0 in the EFL Cup to set up a semi-final tie against Chelsea.

After finding the net in the comfortable cup victory, Morgan Rogers celebrated another goal at the weekend when he provided the decisive strike in a narrow 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion.

As a result of their 10th league victory of the season, Middlesbrough are now homing in on the playoff places with just three points separating them from the top six.

Following Saturday's home meeting, Michael Carrick's charges will now head on their travels for Tuesday's contest, and they will fancy their chances of troubling a leaky Rotherham side after scoring at least two goals in each of their last 10 competitive away matches.

Rotherham United Championship form:

L

D

L

L

L

L

Middlesbrough Championship form:

W

L

L

L

W

W

Middlesbrough form (all competitions):

L

L

L

W

W

W

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Team News

Rotherham are expected to be without the services of Tyler Blackett, Cameron Humphreys, Cafu, Shane Ferguson and Fred Onyedinma.

There are also doubts surrounding the availability of Grant Hall and Lee Peltier due to hip and hamstring problems respectively.

Defender Daniel Ayala will serve the final match of a two-game suspension, ruling him out of a reunion with his former club.

As for the visitors, their lengthy injury list features Darragh Lenihan, Tommy Smith, Paddy McNair, Lewis O'Brien, Hayden Hackney and Marcus Forss.

First-choice goalkeeper Seny Dieng remains a doubt for Tuesday's contest after missing the last two matches with a thigh issue.

There is also uncertainty surrounding the fitness of striker Emmanuel Latte Lath, who was ruled out of the win over West Brom due to a hamstring problem.

Rotherham United possible starting lineup:

Johansson; Lembikisa, Morrison, Revan, Odoffin, Bramall; Tiehi, Lindsay, Rathbone; Nombe, Hugill

Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:

Glover; Dijksteel, Fry, Van den Berg, Engel; Barlaser, Howson; Jones, Rogers, Greenwood, Silvera

We say: Rotherham United 1-2 Middlesbrough

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