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Preview: Rotherham United vs. Brighton & Hove Albion

Sports Mole looks ahead to the Championship relegation clash between Rotherham United and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Rotherham United enter their final run of Championship fixtures with a fighting chance of avoiding relegation, while their Easter Monday opponents Brighton & Hove Albion are in touching distance of safety.

With five points separating the teams ahead of kickoff, either one could take a significant step towards second-tier survival with a victory at the New York Stadium.



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

Rotherham have endured a difficult season in the Championship following their promotion from League One last term, but the dismal form of the teams below finds them treading water with six games remaining.

The Millers head into their meeting with Brighton in 21st place, four points ahead of Millwall below them, yet the Lions' victory over Charlton Athletic on Good Friday has put them under pressure.

A run of three straight defeats is also concerning for manager Steve Evans, who watched his side go down 2-1 at Birmingham City in their last outing.

They have won just once in their last six matches, but were unlucky not to take something from their home clash with Sheffield Wednesday a fortnight ago, losing 3-2 after conceding twice in stoppage time.

With Millwall and Wigan in the drop zone threatening to pick up points here and there, ending Rotherham's run of straight defeats is imperative for Evans.

Recent form: LWLLLL



Brighton

Manager Chris Hughton of Brighton looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Norwich City at Amex Stadium on April 3, 2015© Getty Images

Brighton were one of the pre-season favourites to challenge for promotion to the top flight, but a nightmare start to the campaign cost Sami Hyypia his position as manager in December.

A run of just one win in their opening 18 games left them in a difficult position, but Hyypia's successor Chris Hughton has since reversed their fortunes.

Although they have suffered a few dips in form since the former Newcastle United boss took the helm, the Seagulls are now far tougher to beat.

The division's form team, Norwich City, could only manage a 1-0 win over Brighton in their last outing, and they head into the match nine points clear of the drop zone.

Hughton has guided Brighton to impressive wins over promotion hopefuls Ipswich Town and Derby County since taking charge, but the relegation scrap against Rotherham and the subsequent meeting with Wigan could be his toughest challenges so far.

Recent form: WLDDWL



Team News

Lewis Dunk of Brighton during the pre season friendly match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Norwich City at The Amex Stadium on July 30, 2013© Getty Images

Brighton defender Lewis Dunk could return to first-team action at Rotherham after sitting out the defeat to Norwich on the bench.

Furthermore, there could be a Seagulls debut for recent loan signing Mustapha Carayol, who also watched the Canaries clash from the dugout.

Iceland international Kari Arnason is in line for a recall for Rotherham after serving a two-match suspension, while on-loan goalkeeper Damian Martinez's place in the starting XI is in jeopardy after he conceded five in his first two games.

Conor Sammon and Matt Derbyshire are expected to head up the Millers' attack, but Frazer Richardson and Danny Ward are likely to remain sidelined through injury.

Rotherham possible starting lineup:
Martinez, Hunt, Arnason, Broadfoot, Lafferty; Wilson, Frecklington, Smallwood, Pringle; Sammon, Derbyshire

Brighton possible starting lineup:
Randolph, Caddis, Morrison, Kiernan, Grounds, Cotterill, Gleeson, Davis, Tesche, Gray, Donaldson



Head To Head

These two sides played out a 1-1 draw in October and, historically, they are inseparable.

They have met 47 times competitively, with Rotherham winning 15, Brighton winning 16, and 16 encounters ending in a draw.

Recent history favours Brighton as they are unbeaten against the Millers since 2002.


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Rotherham 1-1 Brighton

This is sure to be a fiery relegation clash in which both sides will be eager to avoid defeat, and they could cancel each other out in a repeat of the reverse fixture's scoreline.



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