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Preview: Rotherham United vs. Preston North End - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 12 March 2023, 10:52
Preston North End will be bidding to stretch their unbeaten run in the Championship to seven matches when they travel to Rotherham United on Tuesday night.

The visitors will enter the contest off the back of a 2-0 home success over Cardiff City on Saturday, while Rotherham suffered a 2-0 defeat at Birmingham City on the same afternoon.

Match preview

Rotherham had been on a three-game unbeaten run in the Championship heading into Saturday's clash with Birmingham City, but they suffered a 2-0 loss to the Blues, with the result leaving them in 18th position in the table.

Matthew Taylor's side are currently eight points clear of the relegation zone, boasting a record of nine wins, 13 draws and 13 defeats from 35 games this season to collect 40 points.

The Millers were promoted from League One last season, so avoiding relegation back to the third tier is their main goal this term, and their recent collection of seven points from three games against Sunderland, Swansea City and Queens Park Rangers were certainly valuable.

Rotherham now have back-to-back home fixtures against Preston and Cardiff, and they have managed to pick up seven victories in front of their own supporters this season.

The Millers are also unbeaten in their last six Championship matches against Preston, but the points were shared in a goalless draw when they locked horns earlier this season.

Preston have not actually overcome Rotherham since a 3-1 success in November 2016, losing three and drawing three of their last six matches with Tuesday's opponents.

However, Ryan Lowe's side are the form team entering this match, having gone unbeaten in their last six matches in England's second tier, including a 2-0 success over Cardiff on Saturday afternoon.

Thomas Cannon sent the home side ahead at Deepdale before Ched Evans made sure of the points in second-half stoppage time, and the result left Preston in 12th spot in the table.

The Lilywhites, who finished 13th in the Championship last term, are eight points off the playoffs, so it is difficult to imagine them pushing for the top six in the final stages of the campaign.

However, another victory on Tuesday and in their next game away to Middlesbrough next weekend would certainly leave the supporters hopeful of a late promotion push.

Rotherham United Championship form:

L

L

W

D

W

L

Preston North End Championship form:

D

D

W

D

D

W

Team News

Rotherham will again be missing Domingos Quina, Grant Hall, Sean Morrison and Ben Wiles for Tuesday evening's contest with Preston.

Head coach Taylor is likely to make a couple of changes to his side following the disappointing loss at Birmingham, with Jamie Lindsay and Conor Washington expected to come into the XI.

Jordan Hugill could move into a wide position to allow Washington to go through the middle, but Chiedozie Ogbene, who has seven league goals this season, will keep his spot in the final third of the field.

As for Preston, Andrew Hughes and Emil Riis Jakobsen remain unavailable for selection, but the visitors are otherwise in strong shape heading into this match.

The visitors have not reported any fresh issues from the home success over Cardiff, but there could be a change in the final third of the field, with Evans's late goal potentially earning him a start.

Robbie Brady also had a positive impact off the bench on Saturday afternoon, and the 31-year-old will be firmly in Lowe's thinking when it comes to a possible spot in the XI.

Rotherham United possible starting lineup:

Johansson; Harding, Peltier, Humphreys, Hjelde; Coventry, Lindsay, Fosu; Hugill, Washington, Ogbene

Preston North End possible starting lineup:

Woodman; Storey, Diaby, Cunningham; Potts, Woodburn, Whiteman, Johnson, Fernandez; Evans, Cannon

We say: Rotherham United 1-1 Preston North End

Rotherham have actually only lost five times at home in the Championship this season, but they will be welcoming a Preston outfit with the fourth-best away record, claiming 29 points on their travels.

The visitors certainly have the quality to secure all three points on Tuesday evening, but we just have a feeling that a tight game will end with the spoils being shared.

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