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Rotherham logo
Championship
Oct 2, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Burnley logo

1-2

Ward (75')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Gray (9'), Vokes (81')

Preview: Rotherham United vs. Burnley

Sports Mole provides the lowdown ahead of Friday night's Championship encounter between Rotherham United and Burnley.

After almost two months without a managerial departure in the 2015-16 Championship season, we saw two bosses leave their jobs in two days earlier this week.

One of those was Steve Evans at Rotherham United, and the Millers begin life without the brazen Scot with a visit from Burnley on Friday night.


Rotherham

Steve Evans, manager of Rotherham United during the Pre Season Friendly match between Rotherham United and Nottingham Forest at The New York Stadium on July 23, 2014© Getty Images

Evans's time at the club came to an end on Monday after an extremely successful three-and-a-half years that included successive promotions in 2013 and 2014 before he kept the club in the Championship last term.

Rotherham were bottom of the table two weeks ago, but back-to-back wins had seen them climb up to 20th and that made the departure of Evans all the more surprising.

It was first time since December 2003 that Rotherham had won two on the bounce in the second tier, and both victories were over early playoff chasers as first Cardiff City went down before Birmingham City were kept out and beaten 2-0 at home by the Millers.

There was no suggestion that 52-year-old Evans had been sacked, but that he had left the club amicably due to he and the board having different ambitions going forward.

With the international break following this weekend's round of fixtures, the Rotherham board is unlikely to rush into an appointment for tomorrow's game, so Eric Black will be in caretaker charge for Burnley's visit.

Former Derby County and Sheffield United manager Nigel Clough and ex-Peterborough United boss Darren Ferguson are the early favourites to take over at the New York Stadium, while Paolo Di Canio was also said to be interested but not offered the job by the Millers.

Recent form: LLDLWW


Burnley

Burnley's English manager Sean Dyche arrives ahead of the English Premier League football match between Burnley and Newcastle United at Turf Moor in Burnley, north west England, on December 2, 2014© Getty Images

After four wins in a row, Burnley have managed just one point out of a possible six in their last two matches to drop out of the top six on goal difference.

They are one of six sides on 15 points behind the pacesetting top two of Brighton & Hove Albion and Middlesbrough after a goalless draw at Derby County was followed by a first home defeat of the season against Reading.

Burnley had conceded only two goals in their previous three home matches, but let in that number after less than 10 minutes as in-form Reading flew out of the blocks. Tendayi Darikwa pulled one back in the second half and although the hosts threatened an equaliser, it did not arrive.

Sean Dyche would have known that the previous four straight wins had come against sides his team were expected to beat, and the fact that they were unable to do the same against sterner tests in Derby and Reading prove that there is still plenty of work to do if the Clarets are to achieve promotion straight back to the Premier League.

A good run could easily propel Dyche's side back towards the top two, though, and they don't play any of the current top 10 in their next five league fixtures.

Away from home, Burnley have lost only one of their last six league games, winning three and drawing two.

Recent form: WWWWDL


Team News

Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe of Club Brugge in action during the Jupiler League match between KSC Lokeren OV and Club Brugge at the Daknamstadion on April 26, 2014 © Getty Images

One player not available for Rotherham is Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe after the midfielder decided to turn down the chance to extend his loan in Yorkshire and instead return to parent club Norwich City.

Chris Maguire could take his place on the right-hand side, but Black is unlikely to change the team too much given their performance at Birmingham.

As for Burnley, Andre Gray missed the visit of Reading, but he is expected to return here and could take Rouwen Hennings's place in attack.

Joey Barton made his debut in the second half against the Royals and is pushing for his first start with the Clarets.

Rotherham possible starting lineup:
Camp; Buxton, Rawson, Collins, Mattock; Maguire, Smallwood, Andreu, Newell; Clarke-Harris, Derbyshire

Burnley possible starting lineup:
Heaton; Darikwa, Duff, Keane, Mee; Boyd, Barton, Jones, Kightly; Vokes, Gray


Head To Head

Rotherham are unbeaten in their last seven home league matches against Burnley, but this is the first meeting between the two sides for over 10 years.

The Millers and Clarets were last in the Championship together in 2004-05, when they drew 0-0 in Rotherham before Burnley claimed a 2-1 win at Turf Moor in March 2005.


Video Preview

Hit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa had to say about this encounter:



Sports Mole Logo

We say: Rotherham 0-2 Burnley

It would be a big surprise to see Rotherham make it three wins on the trot, even though Burnley have picked up just one point out of six in their last two matches. The Clarets should have too much.



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Andre Gray of Burnley during the Sky Bet Championship match between Bristol City and Burnley at Ashton Gate on August 29, 2015 in Bristol, England.
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