Rotherham United welcome Southend to the New York Stadium this weekend and will hope to get back to winning ways at home.
Sitting in second place in League One the Millers haven’t won at home since the beginning of February when they were on the better end of a three-two scoreline against Burton Albion. A loss last Saturday at Rochdale saw them fall five points under top placed Coventry City.
Southend come into this game on the back of a deserved three-one home win over Bristol Rovers but still find themselves sitting in the bottom two in the league. Their last away game ended in a two-one loss at Oxford with their last away win being against Accrington in January.
Rotherham United Manager Paul Warne expects Southend to be full of confidence on Saturday after beating Bristol Rovers the previous weekend. Speaking to iFOLLOW the Millers Boss said, ‘Southend can come here fearless thinking that anything they get here is a bonus. They are a good footballing side who play with freedom and will enjoy playing on our pitch. It will be a really tough game and I think it is essential we score the first goal.
Paul Warne will be without long term injured Clark Robertson and Michael Ihiekwe will be missing as it’s uncertain whether he will have to have an operation on a knee injury that could keep him out for the rest of the season with Curtis Tilt probably taking his place as he did last weekend. Joe Mattock is also a major doubt with a hamstring problem with Billy Jones ready to deputise.
Saying that the Millers are a ‘steady side’ Southend Manager Sol Campbell told their Official Site that he won’t be ‘underestimating’ Rotherham. ‘Having a steady side week in week out,’ he said, ‘or roughly, is very good. We’ve had to chop and change. The guys are ready to compete and hopefully we take our chances when they arise but it’s going to be a tough game.’
Southend have no new injury worries but Tim Dieng is around ten days away and an arm injury keeps John White out. Although Mark Milligan could play with a mask his inclusion is doubtful while Stephen Humphrys is also missing.
Marc Edwards from County Durham has the whistle on Saturday.
