MX23RW : Saturday, April 3 06:53:07| >> :120:28769:28769:
Mar 16, 2021 at 7pm UK at AESSEAL New York Stadium
RotherhamRotherham United
1-4
WatfordWatford
Ladapo (68')
FT(HT: 0-3)
Sierralta (9'), Sarr (26'), Sema (39'), Gosling (69')

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

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

Watford will be wary of avoiding a potential banana skin in their fight for promotion as they travel to struggling Rotherham United on Tuesday evening.

The Hornets currently occupy second place in the Championship behind runaway leaders Norwich City, while the Millers find themselves in the bottom three.


Match preview

Watford's Andre Gray celebrates scoring against Wycombe Wanderers in the Championship on March 3, 2021© Reuters

Watford left it late to beat playoff chasing Cardiff City on Saturday as Adam Masina's 94th-minute free-kick secured a dramatic 2-1 win in Wales.

The victory was a third in a row for Xisco Munoz's side, who have now won seven of their last eight games, which is a run of form that has catapulted them into the automatic promotion picture, having previously only being considered as playoff contenders.

The Hornets are level on points with Swansea City and three points ahead of Brentford but have played one game more than both sides.

Including Tuesday's game, Watford's next three fixtures are all against bottom-four sides with clashes with Birmingham City and Sheffield Wednesday to come.

No team has conceded fewer goals in the Championship this season than the Hornets (25), while they have won three of their last four away games having only won three of the previous 14.

Rotherham United manager Paul Warne pictured in January 2021© Reuters

Now they travel to a Rotherham side that have lost their last three games at the New York Stadium and have picked up the second fewest amount of points at home in the Championship.

Tuesday's fixture will be Paul Warne's side's first match in two weeks as their last three have been postponed due to positive Covid-19 tests.

Their last outing was a vital 2-1 victory over fellow strugglers and Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday as Freddie Ladapo broke clear in the 97th minute to score the winning goal.

The result followed five successive defeats for Rotherham but all by just the one goal so they are by no means being outplayed in matches.

Nonetheless, they are three points adrift of safety in 22nd position, albeit with four games in hand over 21st-placed Birmingham City.

Watford have won the four most recent games between the two sides without conceding a goal, including a 2-0 victory in this season's reverse fixture in December.

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

Watford Championship form:
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • W


Team News

Watford manager Xisco Munoz pictured in February 2021© Reuters

Michael Smith was sent off in Rotherham's last game against Sheffield Wednesday, but his suspension has been rescinded by the FA meaning he is available to feature.

Ladapo's performance at Hillsborough could earn him a start, while Warne may look to ring the changes with a hectic schedule coming up.

The Millers' two-week enforced break has allowed Richard Wood to get back fit, while fellow centre-back Michael Ihiekwe is available again after a two-game ban, but there is not such good news on Clark Robertson, who remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Ben Foster returned to Watford's matchday squad at Cardiff after over two months out injured and will now push Daniel Bachmann for the starting spot in goal.

Foster's return could be the only change that Xisco makes at the New York Stadium, although Dan Gosling is back in contention after a hamstring strain, and Andre Gray will compete with Joao Pedro for the central striker role.

Rotherham United possible starting lineup:
Johansson; Olosunde, A. MacDonald, Wood, Ihiekwe, Harding; S. MacDonald, Barlaser, Wing; Ladapo, Crooks

Watford possible starting lineup:
Foster; Femenia, Troost-Ekong, Sierralta, Masina; Chalobah, Hughes, Zinckernagel; Sarr, Pedro, Sema


SM words green background

We say: Rotherham United 1-2 Watford

Watford have really found their groove over the last couple of months, and the level of talent in their squad is incredible for this level. Rotherham do not get beaten heavily and that is unlikely to be the case here, but the Millers will struggle to get anything from this tough encounter.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or an away win 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.Home/Away:data


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How you voted: Rotherham vs Watford

Rotherham United
16.0%
Draw
5.3%
Watford
78.6%
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Rotherham United manager Paul Warne pictured in January 2021
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Norwich CityNorwich39259557282984
2Watford39239756263078
3Swansea CitySwansea38209945301569
4Brentford371911765392668
5Barnsley39198125043765
6Reading391891253421163
7Bournemouth3817111058382062
8Cardiff CityCardiff3916101355381758
9Middlesbrough39168154742556
10Millwall391316103936355
11Stoke CityStoke391413124442255
12Queens Park RangersQPR381411134243-153
13Luton TownLuton38148163143-1250
14Bristol City39154203952-1349
15Blackburn RoversBlackburn391210175043746
16Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest391112163138-745
17Preston North EndPreston39136204050-1045
18Derby CountyDerby391110182942-1343
19Huddersfield TownHuddersfield37119174152-1142
20Birmingham CityBirmingham391011182950-2141
21Coventry CityCoventry38912173251-1939
22Rotherham UnitedRotherham35105203848-1035
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds38108202848-2032
24Wycombe WanderersWycombe3979232661-3530

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