MX23RW : Friday, April 19 22:13:35| >> :120:58572:58572:
[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: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
1Ipswich TownIpswich432611685533289
2Leicester CityLeicester422841079384188
3Leeds UnitedLeeds43269876344287
4Southampton42259884543084
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4320121166422472
6Norwich CityNorwich432181476601671
7Hull City421811136254865
8Coventry CityCoventry4217121366521463
9Middlesbrough43189166156563
10Preston North EndPreston43189165660-463
11Cardiff CityCardiff43185204860-1259
12Bristol City431610175046458
13Sunderland43168195250256
14Swansea CitySwansea431411185362-953
15Watford431216155958152
16Millwall431311194255-1350
17Blackburn RoversBlackburn431310205771-1449
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth431212195866-848
19Queens Park RangersQPR431211204057-1747
20Stoke CityStoke431211204160-1947
21Birmingham CityBirmingham43129224864-1645
22Huddersfield TownHuddersfield43917174770-2344
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds43128233667-3144
RRotherham UnitedRotherham43411283285-5323


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!