MATCHWATCH : Rotherham United (h)

[Sutekh]

Got to start Azeez and NGW and try to take the game to Rotherham not be negative and just try to keep things quiet!

[Coppells Lost Coat]

Must win game. Need to play with pace and purpose.
So I expect to see Dann, Carroll, Hoilett and Baba in the starting line up. With Meite, Azeez NGW and Fornah on the bench.
Ince with go with his tried and tested the tactic of long balls in the general direction of Carroll to scrap it out. Hendrick will be running up and down the pitch trying to catch up with play as they hoof the ball back over his head.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Ideally I'd like to see this sort of side:

Lumley
Yiadom Holmes Mbengue NGW/Rahman
Hendrick Fornah/Casadei
Meite Ince Azeez
Carroll

Although I don't think we will see that from Ince, not just the shape but the lack of experience in the heart of defence would be something Ince would be reluctant to do. I'd possibly look to swap out Carroll for either Long/Joao in that side as well as we could try and get at teams and play on the floor a bit more rather than aiming long and high for Carroll. There aren't many particularly great crossers in that team either and it would very much rely on Azeez and then the LB to swing crosses in from that side.

[Stranded]

Not a must win but definitely a must not lose. Though need to get a win again asap else it starts to become a real monkey on our back.

Agree we need to be more on the front foot in this one and look to get an early goal - we've only managed 3 goals in the first 15 mins all season. If we get ahead, we should win.

[Snowflake Royal]

Yeah, if you're going that pacey and aggressive Long is probably a better bet that Carroll.

I stillfind it bewildering that we've got all these strikers who are good at getting on the end of a cross but we set up to actively avoid crossing.

If you play Carroll, it really should be paired with Hoilett at RW.

[Stranded]

Just seen Rotherham are 1 win in 10 - 4-0 v Blackburn.

However, last 3 games have been draws incl the last two being 0-0.

Away from home, they are 1 win in 8 (1-0 at Sheff Utd) in November and are D3 L3 of last 6 managing just 2 in that time but have drawn the last 2.

A betting man would probably say this is close to a home banker, if we get the selection and tempo right it should be but we know it'll end up being a tight game decided by 1 goal either way.

I would love to know what happened to the side that destroyed Blackburn - we've not played that way since.

[Kitsondinho]

SKY are saying it`s on the Red button.

How I’m spending Valentines evening! URZ!

[Kitsondinho]

Yeah, if you're going that pacey and aggressive Long is probably a better bet that Carroll.

I stillfind it bewildering that we've got all these strikers who are good at getting on the end of a cross but we set up to actively avoid crossing.

If you play Carroll, it really should be paired with Hoilett at RW.

Indeed, the number of times AC is stranded out on the wing after winning a header from a long ball…and we put a cross in which he watches from 25 yards away!

[Hound]

Just seen Rotherham are 1 win in 10 - 4-0 v Blackburn.

However, last 3 games have been draws incl the last two being 0-0.

Away from home, they are 1 win in 8 (1-0 at Sheff Utd) in November and are D3 L3 of last 6 managing just 2 in that time but have drawn the last 2.

A betting man would probably say this is close to a home banker, if we get the selection and tempo right it should be but we know it'll end up being a tight game decided by 1 goal either way.

I would love to know what happened to the side that destroyed Blackburn - we've not played that way since.

Rotherham fans prob saying the same. Maybe it’s Blackburn that are the issue

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Just seen Rotherham are 1 win in 10 - 4-0 v Blackburn.

However, last 3 games have been draws incl the last two being 0-0.

Away from home, they are 1 win in 8 (1-0 at Sheff Utd) in November and are D3 L3 of last 6 managing just 2 in that time but have drawn the last 2.

A betting man would probably say this is close to a home banker, if we get the selection and tempo right it should be but we know it'll end up being a tight game decided by 1 goal either way.

I would love to know what happened to the side that destroyed Blackburn - we've not played that way since.

Rotherham fans prob saying the same. Maybe it’s Blackburn that are the issue

I think it is Blackburn that are the issue, their stats seem similar to us when we finished 7th under Pauno, not performing especially well but having a fantastic, if yet unsustainable, set of statistics that was getting them results, specifically outperforming what the data was suggesting.

Statistically speaking, they are at the wrong end of the table for both expected goals for and against. Per game, their expected goals is 0.93, which is 23rd, only better than Rotherham whereas their expected goals against is 1.51 which there are only 5 teams who have a higher expected goals tally (those being Rotherham, Blackpool, Huddersfield, Preston and Hull in order from worst to best).

The table has our opponents tomorrow, Rotherham, as bottom of the overall expected goals whereas Blackburn are 23rd. For comparison, we are 18th in the table. Reference is below, an interesting bit of data actually.

https://footystats.org/england/championship/xg

[Zammo]

I dread to think how low the crowd will be tonight.

[Hound]

I’d far rather be there than ‘celebrating’ shitty Valentine’s Day

[Royal_jimmy]

Hoping the fog stays away tonight

[Snowflake Royal]

Hoping to see stranded's unrelenting optimism rewarded for a change.

[Snowflake Royal]

Thinking about it, this is probably the worst of the next 3 to start with.

They dicked us 4-0 in the previous meeting with some absolute howlers from Lumley. They're going to be looking on this as a perfect opportunity to pick up 3 points and make a big step towards safety.

They're in the best form of the four clubs. They'll probably look to target Lumley for more mistakes.

[Royals and Racers]

Unchanged line-up !!!!

[Sutekh]

Unchanged line-up !!!!

Sorry but think this is a negative line up. Should be more positive with Fornah and Azeez starting, we’re at home to Rotherham ffs not playing Burnley.

[Royal_jimmy]

Don't win and I'll be very peed off

[scumbag]

Unchanged line-up !!!!

Sorry but think this is a negative line up. Should be more positive with Fornah and Azeez starting, we’re at home to Rotherham ffs not playing Burnley.

This is a must win game. What is he playing at?

[Ascotexgunner]

FFS is he he trying to get us relegated?