Rotherham United are back in Championship action this weekend when Stoke City are the first team to visit the New York Stadium in 2024.
A narrow FA Cup defeat against Premier League outfit Fulham was enough to knock the Millers out last Friday while City also came a cropper in their first game in the competition last weekend losing to another Premier League side, Brighton and Hove Albion, at home.
Sitting at the bottom of the table Rotherham got an away point at Blackburn on New Year’s Day while getting four points from their last two home games over Christmas. The Potters come into this game five places and eleven points better off than the Millers while also getting a point on 1st January with a goalless draw at home to Ipswich Town with their last away game, at Watford, also seeing them come back with a point.
Speaking to Radio Sheffield Millers Head Coach Leam Richardson said he is expecting a ‘really healthy challenge’ in the game against Stoke, saying, ‘Stoke have probably been in this league a year or two longer than they’d have liked but they’ve got a fantastic squad with a real attacking threat all over the pitch. We’ve prepared well for this game and it’s one I’m looking forward to.’
Grant Hall, Cameron Humphreys and Tyler Blackett are missing for the Millers and Cohen Bramall had to go off with an ankle problem during the Fulham game so has to be a major doubt. But it could be that Peter Kioso could be in the match day squad having been recalled from his loan spell at Peterborough.
Potters Head Coach Steven Schumacher told their Official Site that he expects a ‘tough game’ at the New York Stadium saying, ‘They (Rotherham) are in good form at the moment, especially at their place, and they’ll be highly motivated to win the game. They fight for every first and second ball, they’re really well organised, good on the counter-attack and a huge threat from set-pieces, so it is important we don’t give too many fouls away and defend set-pieces and long throws really well but we have proven that we are hard to play against.’
City have already delved into the transfer market fetching in goalkeeper Daniel Iverson on loan from Leicester City and the Dane could be pushing Jack Bonham to start. Junior Tchamadeu is away on international duty and Enda Stevens is still out injured but Luke Cundle on loan from Wolves could get his first start with Tyrese Campbell hoping to be back in the travelling squad.
The Referee for this game is Hampshire’s Keith Stroud .
Share this article
Related Articles
