Sheffield United host SkyBet Championship newcomers Rotherham United for the first South Yorkshire Derby of the 2022-23 campaign. Join us as we look at our opposition.
The Blades will host the Millers at Bramall Lane tomorrow, with the match kicking off at 3:00 PM. Unsurprisingly, the match hasn’t been selected for live TV.
Form Guide
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Rotherham have given themselves a good head start to the campaign, having won twice and drawn four in their opening eight league matches, which sees the fellow South Yorkshire club thirteenth in the Championship table ahead of this weekend’s fixtures. They come into this fixture following an impressive 1-1 draw with promotion-chasing Watford last weekend, after 37-year-old Richard Wood netted for the Millers after two minutes. However, the Millers have won once in their last six league games.
Last Time
09.03.2019 – Sheffield United 2-0 Rotherham United
Chris Wilder’s Blades swept aside relegation threatened Rotherham on their way to promotion to the Premier League. An outstanding home performance had seen United take the lead as early as five minutes after Jack O’Connell turned home Oli Norwood’s clever low corner. The visitors main threat came from long throws, but this method of attack was disarmed when supplier, Will Vaulks, was dismissed after 28 minutes following a late challenge on George Baldock.
The victory was sealed on 74 minutes after keeper Marek Rodak was unable to keep out Mark Duffy’s effort from a well-worked corner.
The Boss
Paul Warne – The S60 club has been generous with the tenure of former player Paul Warne, who has been at the club since his appointment in 2016 where, including the 2022-23 campaign, has played in four Championship campaigns, and was relegated in each of the previous three attempts.
Under his stewardship, the Millers have masterminded three successful promotions from League One, whilst lifting the Football League Trophy last season, beating League Two opposition, Sutton United, in the showcase final at Wembley. As Millers’ boss, Warne has taken charge of 291 fixtures, winning 111, and drawing 64 games.
Squad
The Millers were subject to one of unusual transfer business in the summer when, despite being offered new deals, top-scorer Michael Smith, and defender Michael Ihiekwe both opted to leave championship-bound Rotherham, to join League One minnows Sheffield Wednesday.
They have recruited well this summer, having brought in eight permanent signatures and three loan signings, whom they hope will be enough to retain their Championship status come May. In May 2022, the Millers completed the deal of former Sheffield United striker Conor Washington from Charlton Athletic on a two-year contract, and he could be included in the squad to face his former club. The Northern Ireland international was signed for the 2018-19 season from QPR on a free transfer and was part of the squad which helped the Blades win promotion to the Premier League where he played 16 times and, despite his best efforts, failed to find the back of the net.
The visitors to Bramall Lane are expected to be without defender Cameron Humphrey (hamstring), and attacker Joshua Kayode (muscle injury), who are both absent through injury.
Expected Line-Up
(3-1-4-2); Johansson, Harding, Bramall, Barlaser, Wood (captain) Wiles, Norton-Cuffy, Ogbene, Washington, Rathbone, Peltier.