Rotherham welcome Watford to New York Stadium in a Sky Bet Championship clash.
Victory could see Rotherham return to the top-ten and potentially as high as the play-off spots, whilst Watford can go top with a win if Norwich fail to win elsewhere.
Team News
Grant Hall is ruled out for Rotherham after he missed their midweek defeat at Sunderland with a hamstring injury.
Cameron Humphreys and Cohen Bramall (both hamstring) remain ruled out.
Watford could be without Ken Sema after he suffered a groin injury in their midweek comeback victory against Middlesbrough.
Craigh Cathcart (knock), Jeremny Ngakia (back) and Keinan Davis (illness) could be in contention if declared match-fit.
Tom Cleverley (fitness), Imran Louza, Tom Dele-Bashiru (both knee), Rey Manaj and Samuel Kalu (both hamstring) remain absent.
Stat Attack
- Rotherham are winless in their last eight league meetings against Watford (D2, L6), during which they have lost each of their last five clashes.
- Watford are unbeaten in six of their last seven league visits to Rotherham (W3, D3, L1).
- Five of Rotherham’s six conceded goals against Watford during 2020-21 season were scored before half-time.
- Rotherham have scored first in all three home matches this season (W2, D1).
- Watford are winless in their last seven league matches on the road dating back to April 2022 (D3, L4).
Prediction
Having suffered their first defeat of the season in midweek following a second-half defensive collapse at Sunderland, Rotherham now face the tough challenge of delivering a quick response but their defence will need to improve considerably and quickly.
Watford however head to Yorkshire on a high after mounting a brilliant comeback to beat Middlesbrough, before successfully retaining Ismaila Sarr and Joao Pedro as the transfer window closed as both players are crucial to their attack.
Rob Edwards’ Hornets though do need to improve defensively after conceding four sloppy goals in their last two games, which is something that Rotherham will look to exploit especially from set pieces given their form this season.
Throw in the fact that Rotherham have scored first in all three of their home matches and I feel like the first goal will be key, because if the hosts score first then we have a contest on the cards otherwise this could well be an away win for Watford if they’re at their best.
Prediction: Rotherham 1-2 Watford
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