Rotherham United will host South Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday on Wednesday evening with both teams wanting the bragging rights of beating the other.
Rotherham come into the game looking for their second win of the season after an opening day victory over Wycombe Wanderers. The Millers currently sit 18th after 7 games with 6 points.
Sheffield Wednesday will be wanting to crack on with getting rid of their 12-point deduction at the start of the season. The Owls currently sit 24th after 7 games with -4 points.
Both managers will be on the touchline at the AESSEAL New York Stadium as Millers manager, Paul Warne, returned from isolation for Saturday’s defeat to Reading and will have the battle with the Owls as his home return fixture.
Form:
Rotherham will be looking for a positive result against Wednesday after their 3-0 defeat to Reading at the weekend. The Millers played well at times and dominated possession, a rarity for the Millers in the Championship, and had more attempts at goal, but lacked the cutting edge in the final third. The better team won and won without dominating.
Current Form: DDLDL
Sheffield Wednesday will be looking to shake off back to back losses against Brentford and Luton Town, both by a one goal margin. Another game in which the dominant team lost, Wednesday had greater possession and more chances at goal against Luton at the weekend but saw out the final 15 minutes with 10 men. A draw would’ve been a fairer result.
Current Form: LDWLL
Head to Head record: ROT wins: 12, SHW wins: 20, Draws: 7
Last 3 meetings: Wednesday 2-2 Rotherham (8th Dec 2017), Rotherham 2-2 Wednesday (16th Feb 2019), Rotherham 0-1 Wednesday (28th Aug 2019) (EFL CUP)
Record Rotherham Win: 3-5 (22nd Sept 1951)
Record Sheff Wednesday Win: 5-0 (1st Nov 1958) (23rd Feb 1980)
Team News:
Chieo Ogbene and Clark Robertson remain the only long-term injuries at Rotherham.
Jamal Blackman picked up a foot injury against Nottingham Forest but played through the pain against Reading and will be okay for Wednesday.
Angus MacDonald sits out his final game of suspension and will be available for Stoke City on Saturday
Joost van Aken serves the first game of a suspension after getting sent off against Luton at the weekend.
Dominic Iorfa, Tom Lees and Izzy Brown were rested against Luton and could return to the squad to face Rotherham; however, the trio still remain a doubt.
Chey Dunkley and Osaze Urhoghide will sit out the South Yorkshire as they are injured
Prediction:
Rotherham will be looking to improve in the final third and take more of their opportunities at goal. Playing a 4-3-3 is a possibility to be more attacking as the 4-5-1 played at times against Reading hindered their goal threat. Also, the Millers way of playing football seems to be increasing in confidence game by game, but the lack of goals coming from the front is a growing concern. Rotherham will look to capitalise on the back to back losses of Wednesday and will try to find space on the wings for balls into the mixer. The more solid playing midfield will create chances, but will the attackers take their opportunities? That is the question.
Sheffield Wednesday will want to continue their push to wipe out their points deduction and have started positively winning 8 points from 7 and currently sit on -4 points. However, the recent wobble against Brentford and Luton will create a headache for manager, Gary Monk, as attacking pressure in the first half saw victory for Brentford and a second half mess up ended in victory for Luton. If Wednesday can maintain an attacking threat in the second half, they will see a route for winning against Rotherham who have conceded the majority of their goals in the second half.
Predicted Rotherham starting 11: Blackman, Harding, Ihiekwe, Wood, Mattock, S MacDonald, Barlaser, Lindsay, Miller, Ladapo, Jozefzoon
Predicted Sheff Weds starting 11: Dawson, Odubajo, Flint, Borner, Harris, Pelupessy, Bannan, Reach, Marriott, Windass, Paterson
Score Prediction: Rotherham United 1-2 Sheffield Wednesday
The Wandering Yorkshireman 