Third from bottom will face third from top in League One on Saturday afternoon when Crewe Alexandra welcome Rotherham United to Gresty Road.

The two teams locked horns earlier this month in the third round of the EFL Trophy, with the Millers coming from behind to win 4-2 away from home.

Match preview

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Crewe suffered their 15th league defeat of the campaign when they were beaten 1-0 away at Cambridge United last weekend, with Adam May scoring the only goal of the game three minutes before half time.

The Railwaymen have been in the relegation zone since the second gameweek of the season back in August, and they are currently six points adrift from safety, with AFC Wimbledon in 21st also having a game in hand.

Head coach David Artell, who was born in Rotherham and who began his playing career with the Millers between 1998 and 2003, will be familiar with Saturday's opponents but hopes of getting one over his former side are seemingly slim, given the gulf in class between the two teams.

Crewe have won just one of their last 11 meetings with Rotherham across all competitions, a 2-1 win on home soil in the FA Cup back in November 2017.

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Rotherham followed up last weekend's 1-0 league win against Cheltenham Town with a 7-6 victory on penalties against Cambridge, after a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes, to reach the EFL Trophy semi-finals.

Wes Harding's ninth-minute opener was cancelled out by Paul Digby five minutes before half time, and after a goalless second half, the tie was forced to penalties which saw goalkeeper Viktor Johansson save the only spot-kick in sudden death to help the Millers edge one step closer to Wembley.

Paul Warne's men will now turn their attention to League One as they aim to climb back to the top of the table ahead of title rivals Wigan Athletic and Sunderland with a victory.

Rotherham do, however, head into Saturday's contest after losing their last two away matches in the league by 1-0 scorelines against Accrington Stanley and Fleetwood Town.

Team News

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Artell revealed earlier this week that he expects to finalise the signing of at least one player ahead of their clash with Rotherham.

Defender Donervon Daniels has left the club to join Walsall, so Luke Offord, Billy Sass-Davies and Michael Williams are all expected to continue in the back three, with Travis Johnson and Mikael Mandron operating as wing-backs.

After starting on the bench last weekend, midfielder Luke Murphy is set to be recalled to the first XI at the expense of Oliver Finney, while Chris Long and Chris Porter are likely to continue in attack.

As for Rotherham, Warne has no fresh injury concerns and he is set to name a strong starting lineup this weekend.

Wing-backs Chiedozie Ogbene and Shane Ferguson both began the midweek cup game on the bench, but the pair are expected to return to the first XI at the expense of Harding and Tolaji Bola.

Either Johansson or Josh Vickers will start between the sticks, while top scorer Michael Smith, who has netted 15 League One goals this season, is expected to return up front, joining either Freddie Ladapo or Will Grigg in attack.

Crewe Alexandra possible starting lineup:
Richards; Sass-Davies, Offord, Williams; Johnson, Lowery, Murphy, Robertson, Mandron; Long, Porter

Rotherham United possible starting lineup:
Johansson; Edmonds-Green, Wood, Ihiekwe; Ogbene, Barlaser, Wiles, Rathbone, Ferguson; Grigg, Smith

We say: Crewe Alexandra 1-3 Rotherham United

Rotherham's away form will need to improve if they are to stay in contention for the League One title, while Crewe are desperate to pick up points both home and away as they aim to avoid the drop this season.

The hosts will fancy their chances of scoring this weekend, after finding the net in eight of their last 11 games at Gresty Road, but the Millers should do enough to claim all three points.

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