Rotherhamvs.Wigan

Although the visitors have avoided losing in two matches, it will be interesting to see if the Latics' mixed away record holds out against one of the in-form home sides in the third tier.

Match preview

Rotherham might be 18th in League One, four points clear of the relegation zone (having played one game fewer than Crawley Town), but the Millers' results in front of their supporters have kept them above water.

The South Yorkshire outfit have been beaten in only two of nine fixtures on home turf, claiming five wins and playing out two draws.

Interestingly, four of the home club's triumphs at the New York Stadium have been in the previous five as hosts, with only third-placed Wrexham beating the Millers in South Yorkshire in that period.

Only Wrexham (13 points), table-topping Birmingham City (13) and fourth-placed Huddersfield Town (13) have accrued more points on home soil in the last five than Rotherham (12), an admirable statistic given the trio's standing as promotion hopefuls.

Having kept two clean sheets in their past three home fixtures, Steve Evans' troops aim for a fourth success on the trot to improve their long-term survival prospects.

The Millers welcome Shaun Maloney's men on Boxing Day, keen to outwit the Greater Manchester outfit, whose form has improved before the busy festive period.

Wigan had suffered three consecutive defeats in all competitions (two in League One) before mid-December but have found temporary solutions to beat Bolton Wanderers (2-0) and play out a draw with Shrewsbury Town (2-2).

Regardless, the Latics enter their forthcoming match at Rotherham carrying some disappointment after letting a two-goal lead slip against the division's bottom club, with that tie preventing them from recording consecutive wins for the second time this term.

Although the table shows that both sides facing off on Boxing Day are separated by one place and a point, Maloney's 17th-placed men must contend with the Millers' commendable form at New York Stadium and retain their away doggedness to secure a positive outcome.

Wigan have been hard to beat on their travels, as evidenced by five clean sheets in 10 road fixtures and nine goals conceded in that period, a tally bettered by Huddersfield, Wrexham and Stevenage (eight).

Those numbers stand the Tics in good stead heading into Boxing Day, as they hope to notch consecutive away triumphs for the first time since April, when they defeated Lincoln City and Portsmouth (both 2-1).

Rotherham United League One form:

W

L

L

W

W

L

Rotherham United form (all competitions):

W

L

W

W

W

L

Wigan Athletic League One form:

W

W

L

L

W

D

Wigan Athletic form (all competitions):

W

L

L

L

W

D

Team News

Sean Raggett is Rotherham's only reported injury absentee before Wigan's visit on Thursday, thus handing Evans a fairly healthy squad.

Jonson Clarke-Harris has netted three goals in the Millers' five home victories, including a brace in the 3-0 success over Northampton Town on December 14, and the forward aims to add to his tally on home soil and overall league return (six).

Although Maloney also has most players available, the away side will assess Tyrese Francois before Thursday's trip to South Yorkshire.

Thelo Aasgaard (seven goals) and Dale Taylor (four) have jointly contributed to 58% of the away side's 19 league goals, highlighting their importance at Rotherham.

Rotherham United possible starting lineup:

Phillips; Rafferty, Odoffin, Jules, James; Green, Tiehi, Powell; Nombe, Clarke-Harris, Wilks

Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:

Tickle; Sibbick, Kerr, Aimson, Sessegnon; M. Smith; J. Smith, Aasgaard, Adeeko, Thomas; Taylor

We say: Rotherham United 1-1 Wigan Athletic

Wigan have had Rotherham's number in recent meetings, winning three and playing out as many draws in the past six match-ups since the Millers' 3-1 EFL Cup success in 2018.

Written by

Anthony Brown

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