Struggling Rotherham United are set to host promotion hopefuls Lincoln City at AESSEAL New York Stadium on Tuesday in League One.
Rotherham are currently in 19th place with 17 points after 16 games, while Lincoln City are ninth with 26 points from their 17 matches so far.
Match preview
![Rotherham United manager Steve Evans during the EFL Sky Bet League 1 match between Wycombe Wanderers and Rotherham United at Adams Park, High Wycombe, England, on 24 August 2024. [on August 25, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/34/steve-evans.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Rotherham United manager Steve Evans during the EFL Sky Bet League 1 match between Wycombe Wanderers and Rotherham United at Adams Park, High Wycombe, England, on 24 August 2024. [on August 25, 2024]")
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Ahead of Tuesday's game, Rotherham United sit just two points above the relegation zone, and only Stevenage have scored fewer goals than Steve Evans's side.
Combined with the fact that The Millers have recorded just one win in their last six League One games and have lost four of the last five, it is fair to say that Rotherham have been in poor form for some time.
Evans's team did gain a brief reprieve with a win over League Two Bradford City in the EFL Trophy, but followed up that victory with a loss against Crawley Town last time out on November 23, and The Red Devils are now just one point behind Rotherham.
In that match, The Millers conceded a goal in the 21st minute from Will Swan, were unable to muster a reply, and were in truth lucky to have avoided conceding a second when Crawley's Rafiq Khaleel missed a chance late on.
That game continued a run of toothless performances in front of goal for Evans's side that has seen them score just two in their last five league matches, both of which were part of a win over Stevenage in late October.
However, it must be said that Rotherham were missing a number of key players against Crawley due to a bout of illness in the squad, and The Millers will be desperate to pick up some points on their return this Tuesday.
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In a somewhat contrasting season so far, Michael Skubala's Lincoln City are just one point behind Barnsley, who occupy League One's final promotion playoff spot.
Nevertheless, despite their relatively higher league position, The Imps have only managed two wins from their eight most recent league games, a stretch that includes two draws and four losses.
Last time out, Lincoln beat Crawley Town 4-3 on the road in the FA Cup, a match that saw Skubala's side come from 2-0 down to lead 4-2 shortly after half time, though they did concede an 82nd-minute goal to set up a tense ending.
In their most recent league outing on November 26, The Imps lost 1-0 away to high-flying Wrexham thanks to an own goal from Tendayi Tarikwa, but amidst this run of poor results, boss Skubala can at least take confidence from the fact that his side are still capable of being competitive with the best teams in the division.
Team News
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Rotherham were without a number of key players including Liam Kelly, Sam Nombe, Joe Rafferty and Ben Hatton due to illness in their defeat at Crawley, and all are now expected to be available for selection once again.
Likewise, Evans had to make use of players who were under the weather but still capable of featuring such as Joe Powell, striker Jordan Hugill and defender Reece James, who remained an unused substitute.
As for Lincoln, Jack Moylan started against Crawley in the cup match, but Skubala could bring Conor McGrandles back into the lineup for Tuesday's league match.
Similarly, midfielders Ethan Erhahon and Dom Jeffries may return to the XI after dropping out of the first team for Saturday's game.
Rotherham United possible starting lineup:
Phillips; James, Jules, Humphreys; Odofin, Kelly, McWilliams, Hungbo; Holmes, Hugill, Hatton
Lincoln City possible starting lineup:
Wickens; O'Connor, Roughan, Darikwa; Ring, McGrandles, Erhahon, Jeffries; Moylan, Cadamarteri, Makama
We say: Rotherham United 0-2 Lincoln City
Neither side are in the best form at the moment, but it is much harder to see Rotherham scoring.
Lincoln should be expected to take all three points in this game as they search for some stability in the hunt for promotion from League One this season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
