Rotherham United will be looking to continue their impressive away form in Sky Bet League One when they head to MK Dons on Saturday. You can find all of the information ahead of the clash here…
Fixture: MK Dons V Rotherham United
Competition: Sky Bet League One
Date: Saturday 23rd November 2019
Kick-Off: 3:00pm
Venue: Stadium MK
Referee: R. Joyce
Rotherham United
Form: WLWWLW
League Position: 6th
Top Scorer: Matt Crooks (8)
With no international break for the Millers last weekend, the team were able to resume normal order in the league and did so with a 1-0 home victory against Accrington Stanley. This came after back-to-back away cup clashes, one 3-0 defeat to Lincoln City in the EFL Trophy, and one 3-1 win in the FA Cup First Round against Maidenhead United.
Paul Warne has a minor problem in defence ahead of the match this weekend, and three defenders didn’t train fully this week. Clark Robertson and Adam Thompson are suffering with niggling injuries, while Richard Wood is not available due to a hamstring injury.
This weekend’s trip will come too soon for Joe Mattock as well. Warne had hoped that he would join in training on Thursday, but that was not the case. The defender has been out with a back problem.
Despite Kyle Vassell being “in a good place” ahead of this weekend’s match, the Rotherham United boss doesn’t believe he is ready to start a match, but didn’t rule out him making an impact in one way or another.
MK Dons
Form: LLLLLL
League Position: 21st
Top Scorer: Rhys Healey (3)
For MK Dons’ fans, the club’s return to Sky Bet League One has well and truly passed its honeymoon period. The hosts on Saturday didn’t have a bad start to life back in the third tier of English football, but since then it has been nothing but a struggle.
With no wins in six matches in all competitions, MK Dons are still searching for their first triumph since the appointment of Russell Martin as Head Coach, replacing Paul Tisdale in the dugout, who achieved promotion last season, but it just didn’t click this time around.
Martin will be without Kieran Agard and George Williams through suspension, while Rhys Healey and Sam Norbes are still unavailable through injury.
Despite that, there is some positive news for the Dons’ boss, as Jordan Moore-Taylor is possibly going to return after coming off against Bolton Wanderers in their last match last weekend.
One to watch: Jordan Bowery
Should the former Millers man Jordan Bowery make an appearance this weekend, he is a player who could help the Dons in attack.
Due to poor form and injury problems, the Dons have lacked any sort of threat up front, but if there is going to be a way into the Millers defence, then Bowery could be key to that.
Bowery began his career at Chesterfield before moving to Aston Villa in 2012. The attacking man then made 40 appearances for Rotherham United, so Millers fans will be hoping that he doesn't come back to haunt them this weekend.
Bowery has scored two goals in 13 appearances for MK Dons since joining in the summer of 2019, and the 28-year-old has also got one assist to his name.
Talk
Paul Warne: "They obviously got promoted and they haven't had the start they probably wanted, but we've watched the last few games as we always do and they were really dominant at Bolton against a team that have now won three on the spin away from home.
"Even when they had 10 men they should have won the game in my opinion.
"You always get a reaction when a new manager comes in. It is their first league home game under the new management so I expect a real positive performance from them. They can really keep the ball and that has been evident in years gone by."
Russell Martin: “They’re a good side, who are in form. They are really good at what they do. They’ve had consistency in terms of management so they know exactly what they are. Again, though, our main focus is on us and what we can do in the game.”
Coverage
iFollow Millers will be providing full 90-minute commentary from the match, whilst the Rotherham United Twitter feed will be providing live updates for the entirety.
Reaction will be available on the official website post-match, as well as on iFollow and social media.