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The Story So Far
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| Town | Rotherham |
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Town have had a solid start to the season, and now lie comfortably in 12th place. However, the form that saw them reach the top of the table on September 1st will all be ruined if a stop is not put to the form that has seen Town take just two points from five games. Lennie Lawrence made it clear earlier this week that he will not be prepared to put up with players who are not willing to make a significant contribution to the club, and new signings from Scandanavia are imminent, as more trialists are set to pour into the club in the next few weeks, such as Hoalid Regragui (below).
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Rotherham quite simply have had a nightmare start to the season. Four points from eten games tells its own story, and they are yet to register a win, with all their four points coming from draws. Scoring has not been a problem for the Millers, with former Manchester United striker Mark Robins netting seven goals so far, but the problem has been in defence, with the club 20 goals goals. Manager Ronnie Moore, who did such a fantastic job in leading the club to two successive promotions, has publicly criticised his chairman for not making funds available to him. This lack of new talent has become more than obvious, and unless signings are made soon then the Millers will be rooted to the bottom of the table for the rest of the season.
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Recent Form
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| Town | Rotherham |
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| L | Wolves | (h) | 0-3 |
| D | Sheff Wed | (h) | 1-1 |
| L | Gillingham | (a) | 1-2 |
| L | Forest | (a) | 0-2 |
| D | Norwich | (h) | 1-1 |
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Overall League Record
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Leading Goalscorers (League + Cup)
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| Town | Rotherham |
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| Rowan | 4 |
| Jevons | 3 |
| Jeffrey | 2 |
| Pouton | 2 |
| Allen | 2 |
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| Robins | 7 |
| Scott | 2 |
| Lee | 1 |
| Branston | 1 |
| McIntosh | 1 |
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Town Team News
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Keeper Danny Coyne may or may not miss the game with Rotherham, it depends on whether his national team boss Mark Hughes decides to pick him or Forest keeper Darren Ward as Paul Jones's number two. If Coyne does not make it in time then Steve Croudsen will deputise
Midfielder Wayne Burnett has a slight knock from the affects of last weeks game against Bradford, but will make it in time for the Rotherham game.
Mike Jeffrey's place in the squad is under threat after recent criticism in the week from manager Lennie Lawrence.
Forward Phil Jevons may be rested which means that Bradley Allen will partner Johnny Rowan up front. This means a place in the lineup for Michael Boulding. Whether the former Manchester United trainee will play down the left or upfront in an attacking 4-3-3 team remains to be seen.
Defender Marlon Broomes will only be on the bench as a precaution, and will not displace David Beherall because Lennie Lawrence is not going to renew his loan deal beyond next week. Whether Broomes will feature against Liverpool, hasn't been established.
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Rotherham Team News
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Last seasons player of the year Paul Warne will not make it in time for Friday's clash despite playing a reserve game in the week. Striker Alan Lee will continue to partner Mark Robins up front.
New signing John Mullin will probably take up a seat on the bench after his £150,000 move from Burnley. The midfielder is one of many players Ronnie Moore will hope to bring in during the coming weeks.
Other than that, the team should be unchanged from the one that lost 3-0 at home to Wolves last Saturday.
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Expected Line Ups
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| Town | Rotherham |
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Steve Croudson
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| Young keeper who is back in the first team squad after a loan spell with rivals Scunthorpe, and will deputise if Danny Coyne does not make it back from international duty, which still remains unclear. |
| Danny Butterfield |
| Originally a right back, but has played in midfield for most of this season, but will continue play right back for most of the season now that defender John McDermott has been ruled out for 3-6 months. |
| Tony Gallimore |
| Solid left back who is a undoubtedly Town's first choice in that position, after signing for Town in 1996 from Carlisle for £230,000.
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Paul Groves (c)
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| Integral part of Town's back four, who still, at the age of 35 is as reliable as ever. Has made the transition from central midfield to central defence with ease. Groves joined the coaching ranks in the summer with a new player/coach role. |
| David Beherall |
| Will retain his place in the starting eleven, due to Marlon Broomes' loan not being extended into next month. Beharall has impressed the Town faithful with some assured performances since his loan move from Newcastle in August. |
Stuart Campbell
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| Will surely make the move from left midfield to right midfield on Friday night when Michael Boulding fills the role down the left hand side. Signed in the summer from Leicester for £200,000 after a loan spell with the Mariners last season.
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Alan Pouton
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| Tigerish midfielder who may well get his chance to play in his preferred role of central midfield on Saturday after an injury to Dutch star Menno Willems. |
| Wayne Burnett |
| In his fifth season with the club after signing from Huddersfield in 1998. The accomplished midfielder is expected to play despite picking up a slight knock in the week. |
Michael Boulding
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| Will surely get his chance against Rotherham after scoring last week against Bradford. A very quick player who signed from Mansfield last month. Whether his role will be as a left sided midfielder or a striker in a 4-3-3 system remains to be seen.
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| Bradley Allen |
| Experienced forward who has bagged two goals this season, both from the bench, and started his first game of the season last week at Valley Parade. Former Charlton and QPR hitman who signed in the 1999/2000 season on a bosman. |
Johnny Rowan
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| Scored his fourth goal of the season last week, and improving in every game, Rowan is one to watch for the future, still at the age of 19. Signed a new two year contract on Tuesday that will see him at BP until 2004. |
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Mike Pollit
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| Former Lincoln City goalkeeper who re-signed for Rotherham this summer after joining Chesterfield last season. Now back at Milmoor, the commanding keeper is described as one of the best outside the Premiership. |
| Marvin Bryan |
| Speedy full back who signed from Blackpool in 2000 after a previous spell with Doncaster. He has over 300 games to his name.
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Paul Hurst
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| Sheffield Born defender who likes to get forward, Hurst has been with the Millers since 1993 and has impressed the fans giving many and impressive display. |
| Martin Mcintosh |
| Defender on a three month loan from Hibernian. McIntosh has given some fantastic displays at the back, and many fans would like to see him sign on a more permanent deal.
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Rob Scott
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| Originally a forward, Scott has now transferred to being a defender since his £50,000 move from Fulham in 1998. Now a regular feature in Ronnie Moore's team. |
| Chris Swailes |
| Defender signed in the summer on Bosman style transfer. A player at the age of 31 with a great pedigree for the game and lots of experience. |
Stuart Talbot
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| Birmingham born midfielder who joined the Millers in 2000, adding a potency and cutting edge to the Millers side. |
| Kevin Watson |
| FClub Captain who was a major influence on Rotherhams success last season, but has suffered a slight dip in form this year. This has lead to jeers from the fans, but Ronnie Moore has stood by him, and he will be keen to prove his critics wrong. |
Alan Lee
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| Irish under 21 international who signed for Rotherham last September. His aerial presence and sharpness around the box has proved vital, but will be hoping to add to his one goal this year. |
Chris Sedgwick
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| Attacking 21 year old whom has been with the club since 1997, after moving up the youth ranks. Now a regular member of the first team, Chris will be hoping to consolidate his position in the team in the first division. |
Mark Robins
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| Ex-Manchester United, Norwich, Walsall and Manchester City player who signed for the Millers last season, catapulting the team into the first division with many goals. These have not stopped and has got seven of Rotherhams nine goals this year. |
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| Subs | Subs |
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| Phil Jevons |
| Ben Chapman |
| Mike Jeffrey |
| Marlon Broomes |
| Ronald Ermes (GK) |
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| Guy Branston |
| John Mullin |
| Nicky Daws |
| Richie Barker |
| Ian Gray (GK) |
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Last Time Out
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Last time the two sides met in the league (excluding the cup game in 1991), was in the 1990-91 season in the old division three. That came at Blundell Park on March 12th, when a rampant Grimsby won 4-1 with goals from Neil Woods, an own goal and a brace for Tony Rees. The game was watched by 5,542 fans, in a season that saw Town promoted, but Rotherham relegated to the basement league in division four.
Town Team: Sherwood, McDermott, Jobling, Lever, Futcher, Cunnington, Watson, Gilbert, Cockerill, Rees, Birtles (Woods).
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Rotherham Head-to-Head
(78th on The Opposition Ladder).
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Fishy Prediction
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Surely a win is on the horizon for Town, after some bad results of late. A loss at home to a Rotherham team who have not won all season would be disastrous, so anything less than three points will not be good.
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