Rotherham vs Sheffield Wednesday predictions: Owls to deepen rivals' gloom
- Rotherham are 16 points from safety following their 2-1 loss at QPR
- Three wins in four have given Danny Rohl’s Owls a survival lifeline
- Recommended bet: Sheffield Wednesday to win
The fat lady might not be singing yet but she has cleared her throat in readiness as Rotherham count down the days to their inevitable return to League One.
Just three wins all season, the last on Boxing Day, have left the Millers 16 points adrift of 21st place and facing a hopeless task.
It was looking bleak for rivals Wednesday until Danny Rohl oversaw three wins in four and the Owls, 23/20 to win this with LiveScore Bet, must be feeling confident.
Team news
Defenders Cohen Bramall, Tyler Blackett and Grant Hall are all close to returns for Rotherham but this game is possibly too early for the three of them.
Manager Leam Richardson looks set to stick with his 3-5-2 set-up and will be considering whether to draft in either Jordan Hugill or Charlie Wyke for Sam Nombe alongside Tom Eaves.
Wednesday may well be missing two of their three central defenders. Di’Shon Bernard is definitely out, suspended, while ex-Miller Michael Ihiekwe is a major doubt.
Dominic Iorfa and Akin Famewo are ready to step in, though Rohl could as easily revert to a back four. Rohl’s other call seems to be either Anthony Musaba or Djeidi Gassama for the left-wing role.
The stats
Rotherham have the fewest shots per game (8.3) in the Championship although Wednesday are the division’s lowest scorers (28).
United have lost eight, drawing the other, of their last nine matches in all competitions.
They have yet to win in 2024 and have won just three league games this season.
Wednesday have won three of their last four games, while Ike Ugbo has scored five of the Owls’ last six goals.
Prediction
Rotherham are doomed to relegation but they would love to go down with a win over bitter rivals Wednesday, to keep them also firmly in the mire.
There is little love lost in this fixture, especially with the possibility of a quartet of ex-Millers being in the Owls’ squad, and the majority of a full house at the New York Stadium will be screaming for a rare home win.
But the reality is that this fixture comes at a pretty awful time for Rotherham, who look more and more like a side out of their depth at the same time as Wednesday have found some form.
Rohl’s visitors make the short trip on the back of three wins from four, with a shape and system which seems to be working and a spring in the step of the likes of Barry Bannan, Will Vaulks, Pol Valentin and Ike Ugbo.
Rotherham, meanwhile, continue to lose games and ground though they are going down fighting.
Their last four defeats - against Hull, Watford, Ipswich and QPR - have all been by solitary goals.
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