Rotherhamvs.Blackpool

The hosts returned to winning ways in midweek following the departure of Steve Evans, while the visitors strengthened their playoff claim with a third straight victory.

Match preview

Rotherham United return to the New York Stadium on Saturday aiming to make it back-to-back victories under caretaker manager Matt Hamshaw, following the departure of former boss Steve Evans last week.

His tenure came to an end as a result of a disappointing first season back in England's third tier for the Millers, who earned just 45 points from their 38 league outings under Evans after setting their sights on a return to the Championship, having won just 12 of those games and lost 17.

The most recent of those triumphs came consecutively at the beginning of March, before they went on to pick up just one more point from Evans's final four games at the helm, culminating in a 4-0 beating at home to strugglers Crawley Town last weekend as Kamari Doyle netted a brace for the visitors and Gavan Holohan and Panutche Camara added late goals.

Matt Hamshaw then stepped in to take charge following the weekend's dismissal, and he was able to oversee an instant return to winning ways on Tuesday, as the Millers visited Northampton Town and prevailed in a 2-0 triumph thanks to Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu's first-half opener and Sam Nombe's goal after the hour mark.

Now with a sense of renewed optimism after that rebound under their interim boss, and having climbed back up to 15th place and within one point of 13th spot, Rotherham United will aim to make it back-to-back league wins on Saturday on their return to South Yorkshire.

They face a tough test, though, as the visitors arrive aiming to extend a winning run and ramp up their pursuit of a playoff place at the weekend.

Following a 12-game run to start the new year which produced just one defeat and only three victories alongside eight draws, Blackpool looked all but confined to a mid-table finish in League One this term, but they have reignited a top-six bid since early March.

From their six league outings since that slow run, Steve Bruce's side have picked up five victories, with a 2-1 home loss to Leyton Orient being their only setback after triumphs over Barnsley and Cambridge United.

The Tangerines quickly bounced back from that by seeing off Northampton Town and sixth-placed Bolton Wanderers, before hosting fellow playoff-chasers Reading on Tuesday and picking up a crucial 3-0 victory thanks to Sonny Carey's second-half brace and an Oliver Casey goal.

Now sitting ninth in England's third tier, two points behind seventh-placed Reading and three behind sixth-placed Bolton with seven games to go, thanks to their wins over the duo in the last week, Blackpool will aim to take another major step towards the top six with a fourth straight victory on Saturday and a third away from home.

Rotherham United League One form:

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Blackpool League One form:

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Team News

Matt Hamshaw should field an unchanged Rotherham United starting XI from their midweek win in his first game at the helm, with defenders Zak Jules and Sean Raggett remaining sidelined by injuries alongside Shaun McWilliams, Alex MacDonald, Dan Gore and Andre Green.

Given those absences at the back, Hakeem Odoffin will again join Cameron Humphreys in the centre of the defence, while Cameron Dawson has been preferred over Dillon Phillips between the sticks in the Millers' last two outings.

Despite competition from Jonson Clarke-Harris, Mallik Wilks should continue up front alongside Sam Nombe, who leads the squad with 11 goals this season, while Joe Powell and Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu will offer further attacking support from the midfield.

Blackpool could also be unchanged from their latest win in midweek, with Steve Bruce having fielded the same starting XI for their last two outings.

Defenders Elkan Baggott and Andy Lyons will remain sidelined, with James Husband and Oliver Casey continuing to partner up at the heart of the back four in the absence of the former, while mainstays Lee Evans and Albie Morgan will again line up in the engine room.

Ashley Fletcher and Niall Ennis will continue to lead the line, with the former having netted 11 league goals this season including six in his last 10 appearances, while Sonny Carey will offer a further threat from the wing after his brace in their win over Reading.

Rotherham United possible starting lineup:

Dawson; Rafferty, Odoffin, Humphreys, James; Kelly, Sibley, Mpanzu; Powell; Wilks, Nombe

Blackpool possible starting lineup:

Tyrer; Offiah, Casey, Husband, Coulson; Apter, Evans, Morgan, Carey; Ennis, Fletcher

We say: Rotherham United 1-2 Blackpool

Written by

Sam Varley

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