Preview: Stevenage vs Rotherham United - prediction, team news, lineups

Both aiming to build on winning starts to the League One season, Stevenage and Rotherham United will meet at the Lamex Stadium on Saturday.

The hosts began with an impressive away victory over Blackpool last weekend, while their visitors got off the mark by beating Port Vale.

Match preview

Stevenage head into their first home league game of the season on Saturday aiming to make it consecutive victories to start the League One campaign.

They headed into a second full term under the management of Alex Revell on the back of a 14th-placed finish last time around, having earned 57 points from 46 games in their second straight League One season, with the hopes of returning to the top half this year.

Following a mixed pre-season schedule, the Boro began with a tough trip to promotion-chasing Blackpool last weekend, but they were able to leave with all three points from an impressive 3-2 victory.

George Honeyman gave their hosts an early lead in that game, but Revell's men turned the game around with a Jamie Reid brace and a Dan Kemp goal, before standing strong to see out the narrow victory after Niall Ennis halved the lead 11 minutes from time.

Now heading into action at the Lamex Stadium with confidence to take from that opening victory, Stevenage will look to make it two on the bounce on Saturday and establish themselves at the top end of the division in the coming weeks.

They face a tough test, though, with the visitors also in search of back-to-back wins to kick off their second consecutive League One campaign under the new permanent management of Matt Hamshaw.

Rotherham United endured a disappointing return to England's third tier after Championship relegation last time around, failing to mount a challenge to bounce back to and eventually placing 13th on 59 points, having finished that term under the guidance of Hamshaw after Steve Evans's exit.

The Millers hierarchy have since given Hamshaw the reins on a permanent basis, and tasked with leading a stronger top-six bid this time around, he oversaw a positive start last time out.

The South Yorkshire outfit welcomed newly-promoted Port Vale to the New York Stadium and saw out a 2-1 victory, having led 2-0 through a first-half Sam Nombe brace before being pegged back on the hour mark by Connor Hall and seeing out the final 13 minutes with 10 men.

Left encouraged with three points on the board, Rotherham United now head out on the road aiming to build a winning run to start the season as frontrunners.

Stevenage League One form:

Stevenage form (all competitions):

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Rotherham United League One form:

Rotherham United form (all competitions):

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Team News

Stevenage should head into Saturday's contest with an unchanged starting XI from last week's away win over Blackpool, with Jamie Reid bound to lead the line after his decisive brace.

He should again have support from Jordan Roberts, Chem Campbell and Dan Kemp, who also opened his account for the campaign at Bloomfield Road, despite competition from summer arrivals Phoenix Patterson and Beryly Lubala.

Fellow new signing Jordan Houghton should continue alongside Harvey White in the engine room, while Charlie Goode and Carl Piergianni should continue to be key men in the middle of the defence.

Matt Hamshaw will also avoid making many changes to his Rotherham United starting XI after their opening-day win, although they are unable to call on centre-back Zak Jules who is suspended after being sent off against Port Vale.

In his absence, Marvin Kaleta may come in to join Lenny Agbaire and Joe Rafferty at the back, with Denzel Hall and Reece James taking up wing-back roles.

Ahead of the midfield trio of Liam Kelly, Joe Powell and Daniel Gore, Jordan Hugill should again lead the line alongside Sam Nombe, who kicked off the season with a brace last weekend after netting 14 League One goals for the Millers last season.

Stevenage possible starting lineup:

Marschal; James-Wildin, Goode, Piergianni, Butler; White, Houghton; Roberts, Kemp, Campbell; Reid

Rotherham United possible starting lineup:

Dawson; Rafferty, Agbaire, Kaleta; Hall, Kelly, Gore, Powell, James; Hugill, Nombe

We say: Stevenage 1-1 Rotherham United

Both with optimism from pleasing opening-day victories, we anticipate a close contest between two evenly-matched sides on Saturday and see a share of the spoils as the most likely outcome.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.