After 10 days off the Millers return to action with the visit of high-flying Norwich on Saturday.
They will start the match with three points less than last time they played after the Football League finally ruled on the Millers' charge of fielding an ineligible player.
With Steve Evans' men plunged back into the relegation mire and Norwich desperately needing a win to keep their promotion hopes alive, it has all the hallmarks of a cracking game at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.
Here are five things to look out for in the clash.
The points are off and the pressure is on
The prospect of a points deduction has been hanging over the club for
10 days but finally after a seemingly endless wait the Millers at last know
their fate. The Football League’s decision to dock them three points blows the
race for Sky Bet Championship survival wide open and leaves Evans’ men just a
point above the drop zone, but with a game in hand on Millwall and Wigan. Ever
since February’s win over the Lions, the Millers have always had a buffer and
knew that there was more than a three-point gap between them and the relegation
zone. But now, for the first time in months, the Millers know that defeat for
them against promotion-chasing Norwich and a win for Neil Harris’ men or Wigan puts them
in the bottom three. And that has them facing a whole different world of
pressure. Ladies and gentleman, it is well and truly squeaky bum time.
How will the break have affected the Millers?
Reading’s involvement in the FA Cup semi-final last week meant that the
Millers have not played since their midweek draw to Fulham 10 days ago. While
it could have been good to build on their promising performance in London
sooner, the fact that they did not arrive home until 3am on Thursday means it might have been a good job they did not play on Saturday. They will have had a full week’s
preparation for the game against the Canaries, which is the start of the
biggest week in the club’s recent history. Will that break have stopped any
momentum they may have gained from the Fulham game or will it have recharged
the batteries going into a match that suddenly has so much more riding on it.
How will Norwich react to their defeat?
Norwich’s loss to Middlesbrough last time out was a damaging blow to
their automatic promotion hopes and it means they arrive in South Yorkshire two
points off the the top two. With an inferior goal difference to Watford and
Bournemouth, boss Alex Neil has intimated they will come and attack and with the
Hornets playing at lunchtime, Norwich could have their hand forced by the time
kick-off comes around at New York. Their point deficit on the top two makes it
a must-win clash for the Canaries and that in turn brings pressure. How they
deal with that could go a long way to deciding the outcome of the game. If the
Millers can get in front early, or if not even just stifle City for the opening 60 minutes, then they
could get nervy and that could work in the hosts' favour.
Where is Jonson Clarke-Harris’ game at?
The Millers’ record transfer recruit has been recalled from a second
loan spell of the season and is hoping to be involved in the matchday squad on Saturday.
The 20-year-old has continually been touted as one for the future by boss
Evans, but the Millers could do with him coming good with some of that
potential before the season is out – similarly to the way he did in October.
Clarke-Harris has not featured in the Championship since the end of February
and reports of his time at League One Doncaster have not been too favourable,
but with Jordan Bowery not offering too much of a threat in attack, the
youngsters brute force and physicality could give the Millers an extra
dimension against the Canaries.
Thanks to everyone at @drfc_official for giving me a chance to play meet new people hopefully I can go back to Rotherham and play my part 😎
— jonson clarke-harris (@ClarkeHarris) April 22, 2015
Matt Derbyshire could get to double figures
If anyone would have predicted before Christmas that Matt Derbyshire would only need one goal to get to double figures this season they’d have been sending the men in white coats after a disappointing start to his Millers career. But the former Blackburn striker has turned his campaign around and eight goals in the last 17 games has proved his worth. He only needs one more goal to get to 10 for the term in all competitions and that would make him the first man since Martin Butler to hit double figures for the Millers in a Championship season. The way he has been playing in recent weeks, it would take a brave man to bet against him doing it, with the 27-year-old currently coming alive in the penalty area. The Millers have had someone get into double figures every season since the 2004/05 campaign and if that run is to continue, you have to think that the outcome of
