Two teams with opposing aims in League One are set to come together on Saturday afternoon when relegation-threatened Rotherham United host playoff-hopeful Bolton Wanderers at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.
The hosts are 16th in the standings with 28 points from 23 games, while the visitors are 10th in the league table with 37 points from their first 23 outings.
Match preview
![Rotherham United manager Steve Evans during the EFL Sky Bet League 1 match between Wycombe Wanderers and Rotherham United at Adams Park, High Wycombe, England, on 24 August 2024. [on August 25, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/34/steve-evans.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Rotherham United manager Steve Evans during the EFL Sky Bet League 1 match between Wycombe Wanderers and Rotherham United at Adams Park, High Wycombe, England, on 24 August 2024. [on August 25, 2024]")
© Imago
Rotherham earned promotion into the Championship after finishing second in League One in 2021-22, but they survived just two years in the second tier before suffering relegation back into the third division.
They have struggled upon their return to League One, with Steve Evans's side currently sitting 16th in the table with 28 points from 23 games, after seven wins, seven draws and nine defeats, leaving them just eight points above the drop zone.
A recent upturn in form has helped Rotherham put more distance between themselves and the bottom four, with the Millers drawing two and winning one of their last three matches.
Evans will be hopeful that his team can continue that improved form with another positive result here as he looks to continue extending the gap between themselves and the relegation zone, but a difficult matchup with Bolton awaits them.
After finishing fifth and third in League One in the past two seasons, Bolton would have been aiming to once again secure at least a playoff place in search of a return to the Championship for the first time since 2018-19.
However, they have so far failed to reach the same heights from the past two campaigns, with the Trotters sitting 10th in the table with 37 points from 23 matches, after 11 wins, four draws and eight defeats.
That does leave Bolton trailing the top six by only four points, but their inconsistent run of results in recent weeks has seen them fall further behind the playoff places.
Ian Evatt's side have managed just two wins in their last six matches, suffering three defeats and a draw, but a dramatic late comeback against Exeter City, with goals in the 88th and 91st minutes to secure a 2-1 victory from a 1-0 deficit, would have boosted their confidence ahead of this game.
Team News
© Imago
The hosts are expected to field a similar starting side to the one that has remained undefeated in their last three outings, securing two draws and one win in that time.
Rotherham have struggled for goals so far this season, with their top scorer, Jonson Clarke-Harris boasting just six goals in 18 appearances, and Evans will be hoping for more from his likely strike partnership of Clarke-Harris and Sam Nombe here.
As for Bolton, Chris Forino is anticipated to be the only absentee due to injury issues, with the defender out of action since a 5-1 loss to Arsenal in September, leaving Evatt with no fresh injury concerns to contend with.
Elsewhere, a superb comeback victory against Exeter City in their last outing could mean Evatt opts to name the same starting team in this game, with goalscorers Aaron Collins and Aaron Morley likely to start.
Rotherham United possible starting lineup:
Phillips; Rafferty, Odofin, Jules, James; MacDonald, Humphreys, Powell; McWilliams, Clarke-Harris, Nombe
Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Baxter; Forrester, Santos, Johnston; Williams, Morley, Thomason, Schon; Lolos; McAtee, Collins
We say: Rotherham United 1-2 Bolton Wanderers
The hosts may be enjoying an improved run of form in recent weeks, but Bolton's comeback win last time out would have given them a major boost heading into this one, leading us to believe the visitors will secure the win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
