Rotherham United’s first game of their campaign in League One begins on Saturday with an away trek to take on AFC Wimbledon.
The Millers were relegated last season ending the year third from bottom of the Championship four points adrift from Millwall in the place above while Wimbledon ended last season one place above relegation avoiding going down on goal difference to League Two.
Wimbledon Boss Wally Downes told their Official Site that they couldn’t have done what they did last season without the fans’ backing carrying on saying, ‘I’ve not changed my message it’s now about the players having the ability to start on a level playing field and be strong enough as a group to do what we did last year and give ourselves more chance of success.’ Asked about the preparation for the first game of the season Mr Downes said that all the hard work had been done earlier in the week and the last couple of days are for freshening up.
The Dons will be without former Millers loanee Anthony Wordsworth who is suffering with Achilles problems and Adam Roscrow who has a groin strain.
Going into this season Millers Manager Paul Warne told iFOLLOW that he was going to try and enjoy this season a lot more than he has been doing in the past. Talking about Saturday’s opponents Warney said, ‘I think since Wally Downes went in there they are possibly more organised and are probably harder to beat. It was pretty impressive that they only lost one in their last nine games last season and it will make them start this season with confidence.
The Millers will be won’t have new boy Trevor Clarke in the squad after he was stretchered off during the week in an U23 game, although the injury isn’t as bad as first thought. Billy Jones has a heel problem while Matt Crooks and Jamie Lindsay have slight knocks so I think all will have to be classed as doubts.
Both clubs will have new faces in their playing squads tomorrow afternoon with the Millers expected to start with record signing Freddie Ladapo while it’s likely that Wally Downes will start with Luke O’Neill who joined in the summer from Gillingham at left-back.
Brett Huxtable has the whistle for the game and is aided by Paul Yates and Mark Derrien while Louis Marks is the Fourth Official.
