Millers set to face Blackpo
For the closing fixture of the regular Sky Bet League One season, the Millers are gearing up to host Blackpool at the AESSEAL New York Stadium on Saturday evening.
As part of the final weekend of the regular season, all League One fixtures have been pushed back to a 17:30 kick-off time.
With their play-off place already booked, Paul Warne’s side will be hoping to gain confidence ahead of the semi-final first leg.
A draw for the Millers would cement fourth place ahead of the play-offs, though a win wouldn’t be enough to overtake third-placed Shrewsbury, who are 11 points ahead.
With semi-final opposition still yet to be decided, Millers fans will be keeping an eye on results for neighbouring sides. The Millers will face either Scunthorpe United, Charlton Athletic or Plymouth Argyle in the semi-final.
Last time out
The Millers will be searching to right the wrongs from the 2-1 defeat at Plymouth Argyle last time out, which saw Warne's surrender a one-goal lead earned by Richie Towell to eventually drop all three points as they fell to a 91st-minute Graham Carey penalty.
After David Ball’s tap-in was ruled out for offside, Brighton loanee Towell tucked home Ball’s precision pass first-time from inside the penalty area to put Paul Warne’s side ahead on 33 minutes and earn a half-time lead.
But the Millers were unable to maintain their advantage in the second half, with Joel Grant taking on two defenders before expertly slotting the ball past Marek Rodak on the hour mark.
Paul Warne’s side were once again denied by the offside flag when Caolan Lavery met a low cross on the other side of the penalty area, but was adjudged to have been on the wrong side of the defensive line.
The Millers were punished in injury time when Will Vaulks brought down Graham Carey inside the penalty area, and Carey stepped up to place the ball just beyond the reach of Rodak to earn the hosts all three points.
The Opposition
Saturday’s opponents, Blackpool, currently sit 12th in the Sky Bet League One table after a 1-1 draw with Shrewsbury Town ended a four-match winning streak, which included a 5-0 thumping of Bradford City.
One standout player to watch for Blackpool will be club top-scorer Kyle Vassell, who has notched a total of 11 goals for the Tangerines so far this season.
Rotherham have had a good recent record against Blackpool in all competitions, with the Millers currently unbeaten against the Seasiders in the 21st Century, winning four and drawing the remainder of seven meetings between the two sides since the turn of the century.
The Millers were also victors in the reverse fixture this season, coming out 2-1 winners at Bloomfield Road back in December thanks to two late goals from David Ball.
Team News
There are no new injury concerns for Paul Warne ahead of Saturday’s game.
Darren Potter will be unavailable having returned to training, only to pick up a knock which has hindered his return, while boss Warne says that long-term absentee Jamie Proctor is unlikely to feature before the end of the season.