MX23RW : Saturday, February 25 05:55:06| >> :600:426647:426647:
[monks data]
Feb 18, 2023 at 3pm UK at AESSEAL New York Stadium
Rotherham
0 - 2
Coventry

C (33'), Ogbene (83')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Allen (46'), Gyokeres (90+2')
Norton-Cuffy (17'), Doyle (43'), Gyokeres (83')

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

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Rotherham United and Coventry City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Rotherham United will be searching for their first win in five matches when they host Coventry City at the AESSEAL New York Stadium in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.

The Millers were denied any points by a late Reading goal on Tuesday evening, whereas Coventry were successful on home soil against Millwall on the same night.


Match preview

Rotherham United's manager Matt Taylor on February 4, 2023© Reuters

Rotherham were victims of a Royals comeback last time out, with Lee Peltier's opener in the first half being wiped out by strikes from Andy Carroll and a sickening 90th-minute winner from Tyrese Fornah.

For most of the second half, it appeared that the Millers were heading towards their fourth-straight draw in the Championship, but a late charge from Paul Ince's men snatched all the points off the visitors.

After a promising start to the campaign which saw Rotherham within the top six, Matthew Taylor's men have dropped down in the second-tier standings into 20th position, just three points above Wigan Athletic who sit in 22nd place.

The sole objective of this season for the Yorkshire-based club is to regain their Championship status, and you feel - despite recent results - that this current Rotherham crop have a better chance of surviving than those that finished in the bottom three in the past.

The Millers have been impressive on home soil in recent matches, holding high-flying Sheffield United to a goalless draw and thumping Blackburn Rovers 4-0 in their last two games at the New York Stadium.

Coventry City manager Mark Robbins on January 21, 2023© Reuters

Following a six-game winless run after Christmas - one which included a humbling 4-3 defeat to National League side Wrexham in the FA Cup - Coventry supporters were left wondering if their team had enough to challenge for a top-six position this season.

The Sky Blues have kept their promotion dreams alive over the last four matches, collecting a healthy seven points, with their only loss in that period coming at The Hawthorns against a West Bromwich Albion side rejuvenated by new boss Carlos Corberan.

Mark Robins's men are sitting in 11th place in the Championship table, five points behind sixth-placed Watford who have played a game more, showing there is clearly work to be done to reach the playoffs, but such a goal is achievable with 15 games left.

Talisman Viktor Gyokeres has benefitted from having other striking options such as Tyler Walker and Sean Maguire available since the start of February, with the 24-year-old netting the decisive goal last time out to defeat Millwall.

Apart from the obvious positive of adding points to their own tally, by beating the Lions Coventry were able to claw back one of their rivals for a top-six place - an opportunity they will be afforded again next week when they face Sunderland.

Rotherham United Championship form:


Rotherham United form (all competitions):


Coventry City Championship form:


Team News

Coventry City's Callum O'Hare celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on March 19, 2022© Reuters

Rotherham boss Taylor opted for a 4-4-2 formation at Reading on Tuesday night, with Conor Washington and Jordan Hugill leading the visitors' attack, however Irishman Chiedozie Ogbene could return to the starting XI on Saturday to replace one of the aforementioned forwards.

Midfielder Ben Wiles remains out until the end of the month with an ankle injury picked up in December, whereas centre-back Sean Morrison has been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign with a thigh injury.

Coventry will welcome back Josh Wilson-Esbrand to the matchday squad after the wing-back served a one-match suspension for picking up a red card in the draw with Luton Town last weekend.

The Sky Blues suffered a massive injury blow in the warm-up last Saturday, with influential midfielder Ben Sheaf sustaining a calf strain which is expected to keep him out of action for around a month.

Rotherham United possible starting lineup:
Johansson; Peltier, Wright, Humphreys, Bramall; Rathbone, Odoffin, Coventry, Fosu; Hugill, Ogbene

Coventry City possible starting lineup:
Wilson; McNally, McFadzean, Doyle; Norton-Cuffy, Hamer, Eccles, Bidwell, Allen; Gyokeres, Palmer


SM words green background

We say: Rotherham United 1-1 Coventry City

Rotherham are embroiled in a relegation battle many pundits expected them to be in at the start of the season, but their recent home results will give them confidence of earning a maximum on Saturday.

The Sky Blues have been hit with injury woes once again in the form of midfielder Sheaf's calf knock, and this will undoubtedly impact their results over the coming weeks.

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


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

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Game History

How you voted: Rotherham vs Coventry

Rotherham United
40.7%
Draw
11.1%
Coventry City
48.1%
27
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Burnley332110264283673
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd32187754302461
3Middlesbrough331761056381857
4Blackburn RoversBlackburn33164133537-252
5Millwall32148104033750
6Luton TownLuton32131183932750
7Watford33131194137450
8Sunderland3313101048361249
9Norwich CityNorwich33147124637949
10West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom32129114236645
11Coventry CityCoventry32129113533245
12Swansea CitySwansea33119134650-442
13Hull City33119133847-942
14Preston North EndPreston32119122837-942
15Bristol City321011114241141
16Reading32125153547-1241
17Stoke CityStoke33117153940-140
18Queens Park RangersQPR33109143446-1239
19Birmingham CityBirmingham33108153845-738
20Rotherham UnitedRotherham33812133645-936
21Cardiff CityCardiff3398162536-1135
22Huddersfield TownHuddersfield3287173043-1331
23Blackpool33710163248-1631
24Wigan AthleticWigan32710152950-2131

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