Rotherhamvs.Stevenage

The Millers suffered a narrow defeat on the road at Leyton Orient earlier this week, whilst the Boro experienced a difficult evening at home against relegation-threatened Cambridge United.

Match preview

After finishing a mammoth 24 points behind safety during their relegation campaign in the Championship in 2023-24, there was a feeling that Rotherham would be one of the bigger fish in League One this season battling for promotion, but the Yorkshire club have stuttered significantly at the beginning of the current term.

Since a 3-1 success over Newcastle United Under-21s in the group stage of the EFL Trophy on October 8, the Millers have endured a three-game winless run in the third tier, drawing a six-goal thriller at Peterborough United on October 12 before back-to-back defeats over the past week.

The most recent of those losses arrived at the Gaughan Group Stadium on Tuesday night, when despite creating the majority of the clear-cut chances Rotherham fell to their fifth defeat of the League One campaign, with a second-half effort from centre-back Daniel Happe securing maximum points for Leyton Orient.

Tipped as one of the pre-season favourites for promotion to the Championship, Steve Evans's men are currently languishing down in 17th place in the League One standings as the harsh winter months approach, five points behind the playoffs and 10 points behind second-placed Wrexham.

Despite a wobbly start, Rotherham know that they possess the third-tier quality required to turn their fortunes around before November's international break, with the likes of Jonson Clarke-Harris, Sam Nombe and Mallik Wilks all capable of wreaking havoc at this level.

Since returning from the enforced two-week pause to league action due to international call-ups, Stevenage's inconsistency in the 2024-25 edition of League One has continued, with Saturday's visitors forming part of shock results against both Mansfield Town and Cambridge over the past week.

The Boro managed a stellar one-goal success at the home of the high-flying Stags last weekend when Jake Young netted the only goal of the contest before suffering defeat at the hands of basement dwellers Cambridge on Tuesday night, when Korey Smith and Sullay Kaikai scored at the Lamex Stadium.

After collecting three points from their last two third-tier contests, Stevenage are currently occupying 13th position in the League One table ahead of this weekend's tricky trip to Rotherham, seven points behind the automatic-promotion spots but only two points back from Exeter City in sixth.

Any hopes of the Boro earning a surprise promotion to the Championship rely heavily on last season's leading marksman Jamie Reid returning to form in the coming months, with the Northern Ireland international yet to score in this campaign despite bagging 18 League One goals in 2023-24.

Stevenage have won just one of their six away trips in the third tier so far, but that solitary success did arrive during their most recent outing on October 19, meaning that Alex Revell's troops are now on the hunt for back-to-back away wins for the first time since January.

Rotherham United League One form:

D

W

W

D

L

L

Rotherham United form (all competitions):

W

W

W

D

L

L

Stevenage League One form:

D

W

W

L

W

L

Stevenage form (all competitions):

W

W

L

L

W

L

Team News

After being hooked before the 60-minute mark on Tuesday night, Rotherham's summer arrival Liam Kelly is unlikely to feature from the start this time around.

Wing-back Cohen Bramall would provide a more natural option on the flanks for the Millers, although youngster Jack Holmes could possibly be handed the chance to play by Evans.

Clarke-Harris was not part of the matchday squad that travelled to Leyton Orient on Tuesday night, making him a doubt to feature on Saturday afternoon.

Despite conceding two against strugglers Cambridge last time out, Stevenage should stick with a centre-back pairing of Carl Piergianni and Lewis Freestone.

A number of players who were subbed on at half time against the U's could be promoted to the starting XI for this clash, including midfielders Eli King and Harvey White.

Rotherham United possible starting lineup:

Dawson; Rafferty, Humphreys, Jules, Bramall; Tiehi, Powell; Wilks, Odoffin, Holmes; Hugill

Stevenage possible starting lineup:

Mahoney; Smith, Piergianni, Freestone, Butler; Phillips, White, Roberts, Reid, List; Pressley

We say: Rotherham United 2-1 Stevenage

Rotherham have only dropped points against Wrexham during their last three home matches across all competitions, so we are expecting a competent performance from the Millers this weekend.

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