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Quick Preview – Millers Entertain Pirates

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Rotherham’s home form has taken a turn for the better with the last two home league games being wins as well as just losing out to Championship side Hull City in the FA Cup in the first home game of the new year. Last weekend saw them win away at much fancied Oxford and going top of the league.

Bristol Rovers two away games so far of January have seen them lose both three-nil. The first one in the league against MK Dons and the last one on Tuesday night in an FA Cup replay against Coventry City. Their last league game was a two-nil loss at home to Doncaster Rovers.

Speaking to iFOLLOW Millers Boss Paul Warne said that his team have to be at their ‘absolute best’ on Saturday.

‘Bristol Rovers will be desperate to get their form back,’ said Warney, ‘and they have a good team with good players. They have recruited during the window and I expect changes from the team that played Coventry in mid-week. But, if we are at our best then we are a difficult team for anyone and hopefully we can send our fans home happy on Saturday.’

The Millers will be without Adam Thompson who is still suspended and Joe Mattock, although back from suspension, is doubtful with a back problem. This game will may come too soon for Sean MacDonald although he is back in training and Billy Jones and Clark Robertson are still out injured. So, it could be that Rotherham line up the same as last weekend at Oxford.

Bristol Rovers have Kevin Maher in charge at present with Manager Ben Garner on leave due to a family illness with Maher telling BristolLive that his team will be ‘back to basics’ on Saturday.

Saying they are looking forward to the game Maher said, ‘We can take on anyone on our day but we need to go back to basics, being hard to beat, not giving up too many chances while putting our bodies on the line when needed.’

Rovers are hoping that skipper Ollie Clarke is back in the starting eleven after coming back from a hamstring injury to be on the bench on Tuesday night. Abu Ogogo is back in training but this game might come too early for him and although Tom Davies has been on bench for the last couple of games after a knee problem he is still a doubt. Josh Hare, Mark Little and Sam Matthews are still out as is goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola who has had surgery on a dislocated shoulder. New boy Josh Ginnelly, who has signed on loan from Preston North End, will probably get some game time with top scorer and former Miller Jonson Clarke-Harris expected to start.

The referee is Leigh Doughty from Lancashire.

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