MX23RW : Sunday, January 5 03:13:48| >> :120:4453:4453:
[monks data]
Rotherham logo
Championship
Nov 22, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Birmingham logo

0-1

FT(HT: 0-0)
Donaldson (62')

Preview: Rotherham United vs. Birmingham City

Sports Mole looks ahead to Saturday's Championship clash between struggling pair Rotherham and Birmingham at New York Stadium.

Birmingham City would move out of the bottom three with victory away to Rotherham United this weekend.

Both clubs are embroiled in an early battle at the wrong end of the Championship table at the moment, with the Millers sitting two points and four positions above 23rd-placed Birmingham.

Things are looking up for the Blues, however, with Gary Rowett having an immediate effect on the team and going unbeaten in his first three matches.

Goalless draws against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Cardiff City were good results for the Midlands outfit, while victory over high-flying Watford was a big feather in Rowett's cap early on.

The former Burton Albion boss will be hoping that the momentum has continued through the international break, with this weekend's match the easiest he has faced on paper since taking over.

Whether he is merely enjoying a honeymoon period remains to be seen, but two clean sheets in three games is a promising sign for a club who have the joint-worst defensive record in the division.

Goals at the other end of the field remain a problem, although Clayton Donaldson is unlikely to lose his starting berth despite rumours of former striker Nikola Zigic potentially returning to the club.

Rowett will not have Wes Thomas available due to suspension, so he could name an unchanged side to the one that drew with Cardiff last time out.

Rotherham could end the weekend in the bottom three themselves should results go against them, and they are likely to be short of confidence going into this match having not won any of their last five outings.

Indeed, while Birmingham have had goalscoring issues of their own, Rotherham have found the net on just one more occasion that the Blues this season and have not scored in any of their last three games.

They have, however, scored in their last 12 matches against the Blues despite not winning any of their last seven meetings, with three defeats and four draws.

The Millers have struggled to keep hold of the ball in their matches this season, with an average possession figure of just 43.5% - the lowest total in the division.

Steve Evans will once again be without Jordan Bowery through suspension and could name an unchanged team to the one that held Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday to a goalless draw last time out.

Rotherham:

Recent form: WDDLLD

Possible starting lineup: Collin; Richardson, Morgan, Broadfoot, Skarz; Smallwood, Frecklington, Green, Pringle; Taylor; Revell

Birmingham:

Recent form: LLLDWD

Possible starting lineup: Randolph; Caddis, Morrison, Robinson, Grounds; Davis, Gleeson, Cotterill, Shinnie, Arthur; Donaldson

Sports Mole says: 1-2


ID:189242: cacheID:189242:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5268:
Written by
Barney Corkhill
No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Burton manager Gary Rowett looks on prior to the Capital One Cup Second Round match between Burton Albion and Queens Park Rangers at Pirelli Stadium on August 27, 2014
Read Next:
Preview: Birmingham vs. Cardiff
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Birmingham CityBirmingham23165241172453
2Wycombe WanderersWycombe24156350262451
3Wrexham25156437181951
4Huddersfield TownHuddersfield23135536191744
5Barnsley2512673933642
6Reading2412573933641
7Stockport CountyStockport25108737271038
8Leyton Orient24114932221037
9Mansfield TownMansfield2311483126537
10Bolton WanderersBolton2311483534137
11Charlton AthleticCharlton239772721634
12Lincoln CityLincoln258892830-232
13Stevenage238781820-231
14Exeter CityExeter2494112831-331
15Blackpool247983235-330
16Rotherham UnitedRotherham237792123-228
17Wigan AthleticWigan2376102123-227
18Northampton TownNorthampton2568112439-1526
19Peterborough UnitedPeterborough2474134146-525
20Bristol Rovers2474132238-1625
21Crawley TownCrawley2355132443-1920
22Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury2445152444-2017
23Cambridge UnitedCambridge2445152243-2117
24Burton Albion2428142038-1814


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!