Rotherhamvs.Wrexham

The hosts fell just short of recording a third straight victory away at Peterborough United last weekend, while their visitors return to action from the recent international break in second spot.

Match preview

Rotherham United head into the weekend aiming to continue their improved run in League One, having seemingly put a poor start behind them in recent weeks.

Following their relegation from the Championship last time around, the South Yorkshire outfit set out to bounce back under the management of Steve Evans this term, but following a four-game winless streak culminating in a 1-1 draw away at Shrewsbury Town, they sat at the bottom end of the division on just seven points from eight matches.

That disappointing draw has since formed the start of an unbeaten streak for the Millers, though, as they went on to record their second and third victories of the season consecutively, triumphing away at Cambridge United as Sam Nombe netted the only goal in injury time before he and Hakeem Odoffin fired the Millers to a 2-1 triumph over Reading.

Then aiming to crack the top half with a third straight win, Evans's men most recently visited Peterborough United on Saturday and looked in a strong position as Nombe, Mallik Wilks and Jonson Clarke-Harris had them 3-1 up at the interval, but they would eventually leave with a point as a Joe Rafferty own goal and an Emmanuel Fernandez leveller forced a 3-3 draw.

Having now started to build a degree of confidence and momentum with their recent improvement, Rotherham United will now look to make it five games unbeaten including three victories by coming out on top on home turf on Saturday.

They face a tough test, though, with the visitors aiming to record a second straight win to strengthen their position in the automatic promotion spots.

Looking to continue their eye-catching growth on the back of consecutive promotions to England's third tier, Wrexham have enjoyed a fine start to the 2024-25 campaign, currently sitting second in League One having collected 20 points from their first 10 outings.

After enjoying a near-perfect opening run, winning four and drawing one of their first five fixtures, Phil Parkinson's side did suffer their first two defeats in a tough spell, falling short against Birmingham City and Stevenage either side of a victory over Crawley Town and a draw with Leyton Orient, before setting out to bounce back when they hosted Northampton Town before the international break.

The Red Dragons did so in style, dishing out a 4-1 beating in Wales as James McClean put them ahead, Jack Marriott restored the lead and Elliott Lee and McClean put the game out of sight with second-half goals.

Now returning to action in a strong position, only trailing leaders Birmingham City by two points, Wrexham will bid to pick up where they left off and extend their impressive start to the campaign by taking a major scalp on Saturday.

Rotherham United League One form:

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Rotherham United form (all competitions):

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Wrexham League One form:

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Wrexham form (all competitions):

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Team News

Steve Evans should field a similar Rotherham United starting XI to their draw with Peterborough United last weekend, although striker Jonson Clarke-Harris may miss out having been forced off with an injury concern after scoring his side's third goal in that game.

If he misses out, Jordan Hugill should come in from the start to partner Sam Nombe, who has found the net in each of the Millers' last three games.

They will have further support from Mallik Wilks, who netted his second goal of the season last time out, while Joe Powell, Christ Tiehi and Hakeem Odoffin should again line up in front of a back four.

Wrexham could be unchanged from their victory over Northampton Town before the break on Saturday, if key defender Max Cleworth remains confined to the treatment room with an injury issue.

In his expected absence, Dan Scarr will again join Thomas O'Connor and Eoghan O'Connell in the middle of the defence, allowing James McClean and Ryan Barnett to offer attacking support in wing-back roles.

At the other end of the pitch, Ollie Palmer and Jack Marriott, who leads the squad with five goals this term, will hope to continue their strike partnership despite stiff competition from Steven Fletcher and Paul Mullin, while Oliver Rathbone, who left Rotherham to join Wrexham in the summer, will hope to earn a starting spot in the engine room with George Dobson and Andy Cannon having been preferred alongside Elliott Lee thus far.

Rotherham United possible starting lineup:

Dawson; Rafferty, Humphreys, McCart, James; Powell, Tiehi, Odoffin; Wilks; Hugill, Nombe

Wrexham possible starting lineup:

Okonkwo; Barnett, O'Connor, O'Connell, Scarr, McClean; Dobson, Lee, Cannon; Palmer, Marriott

We say: Rotherham United 1-1 Wrexham

Despite Rotherham United's league position and early-season struggles, Saturday could certainly be one of Wrexham's toughest tests in League One so far.

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