MX23RW : Thursday, March 28 19:43:10| >> :120:29143:29143:
[monks data]
Rotherham logo
Championship | Gameweek 43
Apr 21, 2021 at 6pm UK
AESSEAL New York Stadium
Middlesbrough logo

Rotherham
1 - 2
Middlesbrough

MacDonald (3')
Lindsay (64'), Smith (76')
Crooks (18')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Saville (33'), Akpom (55')
Saville (72'), McNair (90'), Kebano (90+1')

Preview: Rotherham United vs. Middlesbrough - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Wednesday's Championship clash between Rotherham United and Middlesbrough, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Rotherham United are running out of time to claw themselves out of the Championship relegation zone as they prepare for the visit of Middlesbrough.

The Millers have lost back-to-back games without scoring to remain 22nd, while Boro are officially out of the playoff race after also losing successive matches.


Match preview

Rotherham United manager Paul Warne pictured in January 2021© Reuters

Thanks to a number of games in hand owing to a coronavirus outbreak in their camp earlier this year, Rotherham have long been in control of their own survival destiny.

However, successive 1-0 losses to fellow strugglers Coventry City and Birmingham City has left United four points from safety with two games in hand on 21st-placed Derby County.

Paul Warne's men need to get a win on the board on Wednesday evening, then, especially with high-flying Barnsley and Brentford to come in their following two games.

That could prove tricky, though, as they have lost five of their last seven midweek league matches, most recently tasting defeat to Coventry last Thursday.

Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock pictured in February 2021© Reuters

Middlesbrough make the trip to the New York Stadium with little to play for on the face of it as they are now mathematically unable to finish in the top six.

Neil Warnock had been flirting with the idea of another promotion just a month or so ago, but Boro have been badly out of form since the middle of March.

The Smoggies have lost four and drawn one of their last five games, with only Bristol City in worse form in the second tier over that period of time.

Indeed, Boro are looking to avoid losing three Championship games in a row for the first time in 14 months.

Rotherham were 3-0 winners when the sides met at the Riverside Stadium in January, meanwhile, and could win back-to-back games against Boro for only the second time ever.

Rotherham United Championship form:
  • L
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • L

Middlesbrough Championship form:
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • L



Team News

Middlesbrough's Britt Assombalonga celebrates scoring against Derby County in the Championship on November 25, 2020© Reuters

Warne will surely be tempted to change his side on the back of successive matches without scoring, possibly meaning a return to the lineup for Ryan Giles.

Joe Mattock is the home side's only injury absentee, the versatile left-sided player having not played since before Christmas.

Freddie Ladapo and Michael Smith scored three goals between them in the recent home win over Queens Park Rangers and will likely get the nod again up top here.

As for Middlesbrough, they are expected to still be without Sam Morsy, Dael Fry, Marcus Browne, Marcus Tavernier and Anfernee Dijksteel.

Warnock used a 3-4-1-2 at the weekend and, if that is again the case here, Marvin Johnson will be pushing for inclusion in the backline.

Britt Assombalonga is another who was introduced in the loss to QPR last time out, while Warnock also has the option of recalling a fresh Chuba Akpom.

Rotherham United possible starting lineup:
Johansson; Ihiekwe, MacDonald, Wood; Harding, Wiles, Wings, Crooks, Giles; Smith, Ladapo

Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Bettinelli; Fisher, Hall, McNair; Spence, Howson, Saville, Johnson; Kebano, Bolasie; Akpom


SM words green background

We say: Rotherham United 1-1 Middlesbrough

Both teams are out of form, but there is no doubt that Rotherham have far more riding on this match than Boro, who are now jostling for position in upper-mid-table.

Boro boss Warnock has lost just one of his 18 managerial games against United - albeit that loss coming earlier this year - and we can see the visitors claiming at least a point.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data



ID:443808:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect9518:

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Middlesbrough win with a probability of 36.35%. A win for Rotherham United had a probability of 36.2% and a draw had a probability of 27.5%.

The most likely scoreline for a Middlesbrough win was 0-1 with a probability of 10.7%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-2 (7.91%) and 0-2 (6.51%). The likeliest Rotherham United win was 1-0 (10.68%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (12.99%). The actual scoreline of 1-2 was predicted with a 7.9% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted that Middlesbrough would win this match.


Previews by email

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


Game History

How you voted: Rotherham vs Middlesbrough

Rotherham United
47.2%
Draw
22.2%
Middlesbrough
30.6%
36
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock pictured in February 2021
Read Next:
Neil Warnock "ever so pleased" with Middlesbrough substitutes
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds38257670284282
2Leicester CityLeicester37264774334182
3Ipswich TownIpswich38249580493181
4Southampton36227773472673
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom381991059362366
6Norwich CityNorwich381871369541561
7Hull City371610115346758
8Coventry CityCoventry3715121059431657
9Preston North EndPreston37168134954-556
10Middlesbrough38166165352154
11Cardiff CityCardiff38165174351-853
12Sunderland38146184845348
13Watford381212145351248
14Bristol City38138174245-347
15Swansea CitySwansea381210164858-1046
16Millwall381110173650-1443
17Blackburn RoversBlackburn38119185164-1342
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth381011175462-841
19Stoke CityStoke38118193553-1841
20Queens Park RangersQPR381010183650-1440
21Birmingham CityBirmingham38109194259-1739
22Huddersfield TownHuddersfield38815154261-1939
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds38115223061-3138
24Rotherham UnitedRotherham38311243077-4720


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!