Rotherham United’s last away game of 2023 sees them travel to the King Power Stadium to take on Leicester City.
The teams are at both ends of the Championship table with City on fifty-five points at the top and the Millers at the bottom with thirteen points.
Away at Plymouth last weekend the Millers let a one-nil lead slip and to two-one to the hosts but got an equaliser with thirteen minutes of normal time to go. Unfortunately for Rotherham Argyle scored in six minutes of time added on to get all three points. Leicester’s last home game also saw five goals with visitors Millwall taking a ten minute lead. But three second half-goals from the hosts saw them win the game with Millwall getting a late consolation to make it three-two. In fact, City haven’t lost at home since the beginning of November when Leeds United were the visitors. While the Millers are yet to win a game in December the Foxes are yet to lose one.
Leicester Manager Enzo Maresca told their Official Site that every day he and his backroom staff see things that they can improve on saying, ‘we need to improve the way we defend.’ Speaking about the game tomorrow he said, ‘People just see the table but one hundred per cent for sure this will be the most difficult game of the season. People forget that they drew with Leeds, with Ipswich, with Southampton and they beat Norwich. Sheffield (Wednesday) were last in the table when we faced them and we dropped points.’
After a long lay off due to injury Will Alves picked up a muscle injury which stopped him playing on Monday in Leicester’s away win at Birmingham while Jamie Vardy isn’t expected back for a couple of weeks. Kasey McAteer and Marc Albrighton won’t make this game but some good news for the Foxes sees Dennis Praet available after illness while Yunus Akgun could also be in the match day squad.
Speaking to Radio Sheffield ahead of the game Millers Head Coach Leam Richardson said that he wanted ‘more of the same’ from his players that he got at the Plymouth game (although, presumably, with a better result). ‘You’ve always got to be mindful of the group that you’ve got and get the best out of their attributes which we will do in the short term.’ Going on to talk about this weekends game Leam said, ‘It’s a healthy challenge and one to relish. They’ve got Premier League players whereas some of our lads are playing in the Championship for the first time. Leicester have got a fantastic ownership group, a fantastic coach and team. They fill all five lanes with goals, they counter-press very well and more which are all the challenges we face and, fingers crossed, can prepare for.’
Daniel Ayala will be missing for the Millers after getting a second successive red card last weekend that sees him having to serve a two match ban. Although injured trio Fred Onyedinma, Cafu and Sam Clucas are hoping to be back during the Christmas period it could be that Saturday will be too early for them. The Millers also have a few ‘bumps and bruises’ from last weekend which will be assessed before this game.
Lancashire’s Darren Bond has the whistle on Saturday.
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