Preview of Saturday’s game at Millmoor
Vital Quotes:
Bristol City defender Jamie McCombe says he is confident ahead of Saturday’s trip to Rotherham United.
The Robins have won 3 and Drawn 1 of 4 games during the last 10 days.
Meanwhile, The Millers are embroiled in a relegation battle, but only because of the ten-point penalty imposed upon them for going into administration.
Without that penalty Rotherham would be knocking on the Play-off door, and McCombe told the club website he respects what they have achieved so far:
‘My next door but one neighbour supports Rotherham and, with their ten point penalty at the start of the season, I told him they would be down by Christmas.
‘Fair play to them for overcoming that and they have clearly been playing well. But we fear nobody at the moment and will go there full of confidence.’
Rotherham United Team News:
Colin Murdock is back in contention for a place, but Left back Paul Hurst will be absent until into the New Year following the news that he is to undergo an operation on a troublesome knee.
Michael Keane and Lee Williamson will both still be absent.
Player to watch: Delroy Facey
After a rocky start to his Millmoor career, the well travelled Striker has hit form and continues to shine alongside young starlet Will Hoskins.
Delroy played arguably his best game in a Rotherham shirt in last Saturday’s 3-2 victory over Yeovil and he weighed in with the first goal of the afternoon.
Bristol City Team News:
Marcus Stewart has had his contract cancelled by the West Country club and has returned to Yeovil.
Bristol City look to keep the team unchanged from the one that narrowley beat Carlisle in midweek.
Player to watch: Enoch Shuwunmi
Former Luton Town Striker Shuwunmi started the season in fine style with 4 goals by the end of September.
However a Hamstring injury cost him his place for 4 games.
After his return for the FA Cup tie v York, the 6 foot 5 front man has hit 4 goals in the last 5 games.
He scored Bristol City’s winner in midweek v Carlisle with the only goal of the game in the 85th minute.
Match Facts & Stats
Saturday’s opponents Bristol City come to Millmoor with a poor record over the last 40 years here.
They have achieved just 2 league victories in 11 visits since November 1966.
These wins came in 1990 and 1995.
Last time out was on March 25th this year when a 3-1 Millers win avenged a 3-1 loss at Ashton Gate over Christmas 2005.
That game at Millmoor was the first match after our future had been secured with the takeover of the club.
We celebrated in style and the win took us out of the bottom four for the first time since November.
Loan signing Jonathon Forte opened the scoring after 27 minutes and we went 2-0 up on 39 with a goal from Paul Shaw.
Forte added his second and the Millers 3rd 2 minutes into the second half and the 3 points were as good as ours.
Cole Skuse pulled one back for the Robins 10 minutes from time, but the win had been secured and after a month of uncertainty, the future looked decidedly brighter.
All-time record
…………….
Millmoor P 20 W 9 D 6 L 5 GOALS 41-26
Ashton g P 20 W 10 D 1 L 9 GOALS 29-35
Totals P 40 W 19 D 7 L 14 GOALS 70-61
Ref Watch:
The Referee for Saturday’s League one match between Rotherham United and Bristol City will be Premiership Ref Mr Peter Walton from Long Buckby, Northants.
Mr Walton has been on the National list of Referees since 1998-99 and is currently in his 4th season on the select list for Premiership Refs.
Hopefully what will be an omen for us at the weekend is the fact that he has officiated at 11 previous Millers games and we’ve lost just once.
The full list is….
11th March 2006 Blackpool 0 Millers 0..2 Yellows
(Martin Butler sent off for violent conduct)
29th August 2005 Oldham 0 Millers 1..2 Yellows
1st May 2004 Millers 3 Burnley 0..2 yellows
24th February 2004 Millwall 2 Millers 1..2 Yellows
18th October 2003 Palace 1 Millers 1..5 Yellows
(Mike Pollitt sent off deliberate handball)
9th August 2003 Millers 0 Cardiff 0..2 Yellows
27th October 2001 Millers 3 Wimbledon 2..2 Yellows
18th August 2000 Colchester 0 Millers 1..3 Yellows
15th December 1998 Millers 4 Rochdale 0..4 Yellows
(ex-Miller Mark Monington sent off for illegal use of elbow on Lee Glover)
5th December 1998 Rochdale 0 Millers 0..0 cards
29th August 1998 Cardiff 0 Millers 1..4 Yellows
Total P 11 W 6 D 4 L 1 GOALS 15-5
28 Yellows..3 Reds
This season, Peter Walton has took charge of 18 games, booked 49 players and sent off just 1 (Lee Bullen..Sheff Wednesday at Preston on Opening day.)
His complete record since 1998 is….
Games 302 Yellows 855 (2.83 per game) Reds 53
He will be assisted on Saturday by,
Nigel Bannister from Yorkshire
Andy Halliday from Yorkshire
4th Official will be,
Craig Evans from Lincolnshire
Next Fixtures:
Saturday 16th December 2006
Cheltenham town v Rotherham United 3.00pm
