Marcus Braddock looks ahead to the weekend's trip to Rotherh
It seems like ages ago that Town were last in action, particularly in League One but it's only been a couple of weeks really. Our return to the league sees us travel to New York Stadium to play 6th placed Rotherham United. Managed by Ex-Millers midfield stalwart Paul Warne who played close to 300 times for them. Last season, whilst we were battling relegation in this division, Rotherham were doing the same in the Championship but obviously they had tougher opposition and ended up back in League One.
Their start to this season has been quite good as you would expect with their main strength being their home form that has accounted for six wins and just two defeats. They've been somewhat rampant in their goalscoring at home with more than any other team in this division but they've also conceded more than a goal per game at home.
Top Scorer
Twenty-five year old Ipswich striker Kieffer Moore is on loan with Rotherham and has been rather prolific with 13 goals scored in 16 games and one substitute appearance. The 6ft 5in frontman scored a hat-trick in his third game for the Millers and has also chipped in a brace of braces. In his last ten games, Moore is a certain danger and we will have to work hard to subdue him.
Goals
As I alluded to earlier, Rotherham have scored more goals at home than any other team in League One. Twenty-Two all told which is an average of 2.75 per game! On the two occasions that they have been beaten at home this season it has taken a goal margin of two. Rotherham have been prevented from scoring at home just once, by Charlton in their 2-0 win at New York Stadium.
Goal distribution
Rotherham's best periods of home games is the last fifteen minutes of the game with five goals scored and only one conceded. Their worst spell of games at home is the middle fifteen of the second half, scoring only twice all season and conceding the same amount.
Referee
Robert Jones. Games this season: 18. Yellow card average: 2.6. Red card frequency: once every six games.
Squad News
Millers - Left back Michael Ihiekwe will be serving a suspension, Jon Taylor is a doubt after suffering a knee injury last weekend.
Town – Paul Hurst spoke on Thursday about leaving it late to see who Jon Nolan’s hip problem is, Junior Brown is recovering from surgery.
Summary
This could be our most difficult away game of the season; we play the highest scoring home team in the division having lost two of our last three games and possibly missing two of our most influential players. However, we've all seen this team operate, they are a team rather than a collection of individuals so we'll cope. On the plus side, Rotherham haven't been particularly stunning over their last few games and have failed to win their last three in League One.
COYB!!!
Marcus