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

The Millers fell to defeat in their first game since manager Paul Warne left to join Derby County during the international break.

Match preview

Captain Richard Wood took caretaker charge of Rotherham against Wigan Athletic at the weekend, but they fell to a 2-0 defeat at the New York Stadium, their first home defeat of the season in the league.

They have started the season very well, sitting just below the playoff places despite many seasons of struggle in the Championship in which they have become something of a yo-yo club.

Even though they have been tough to beat, they have seemingly lost the winning touch of late though, even before Warne left, as the Millers have won just one of their last five.

Matt Taylor of Exeter City is expected to come in to take charge and first and foremost, his main target will be to avoid a fourth successive relegation at this level; anything more will be a bonus.

They sit just one point above their upcoming opponents Millwall, and true to form in the Championship, the two sides are both not far from playoff contention, but also ominously close to the relegation zone at the same time.

Millwall are a side who do not travel well at all though, as Gary Rowett's men have taken just one point from their five away matches so far this season, as well as an EFL Cup defeat away to Cambridge United.

This has carried on from a disappointing finish to last season given it is now seven months since they last won a competitive fixture on the road.

In fairness to Millwall though, their four away defeats in the Championship have all come against sides in the top six currently and tipped strongly for promotion.

These two sides have scored the same amount of goals so far this season, but it is a very different story when it comes to their defensive abilities.

Rotherham have been stern in defence, with the third-best defensive record in the division, while only three teams have leaked more goals than Millwall.

One interesting footnote though, is that Rotherham failed to score in either fixture against Millwall last season, losing both by one goal to nil.

Rotherham United Championship form:

W

L

D

W

D

L

Millwall Championship form:

L

L

W

L

W

L

Team News

Lee Peltier was among the coaching staff which took charge of Rotherham at the weekend, but he may not be too far away from returning to the side in his usual playing role, after missing a month already with injury.

Peter Kioso will remain out though after the injury he picked up early in the season against Port Vale.

With a new manager, it is often unclear whether he will make numerous changes or stick with the same group that was working well for a previous manager.

The team has been relatively settled for a few weeks now, and it is unlikely, given their good league position, that Taylor will come in and meddle with the side too much.

Millwall have a couple of ongoing injury concerns, but all of them should be in contention to return over the next couple of weeks.

Two of the back three which started the season, Shaun Hutchinson and Ryan Leonard are both out with muscular injuries, so Leeds-loanee Charlie Cresswell should continue to fill in alongside the experienced duo of Jake Cooper and Murray Wallace.

Mason Bennett is the other casualty, meaning Dutch forward Zian Flemming may continue his run in the team following his move from Fortuna Sittard in the summer.

Other options in attack for Rowett include Tom Bradshaw and Andreas Voglsammer, both of whom have been in and out of the side this season.

Rotherham United possible starting lineup:

Johansson; Humphreys, Wood, Harding; Rathbone, Norton-Cuffie, Barlaser, Wiles, Bramall; Ogbene, Washington

Millwall possible starting lineup:

Long; Cresswell, Cooper, Wallace; Shackleton, Honeyman, Mitchell, Styles, Malone; Afobe, Bradshaw

We say: Rotherham United 1-1 Millwall

There have been just three goals in the last four fixtures between these sides, and there is not much to suggest that a glut of goals is on the cards this time around either when going off recent form.

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