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08:54:00

Leeds v Rotherham: 5 things to look out for

Rotherham bring their topsy-turvy Sky Bet Championship campaign to a close with the visit to Yorkshire rivals Leeds on Saturday.

Tuesday night's win over Reading ensured that there is nothing riding on the game, so the Millers can go to Elland Road and enjoy the occasion.

Here's five things to look out for in the game.



Steve Evans in a sombrero

Not one to dodge the limelight if it comes his way, Evans has courted publicity this week by declaring he will go to the match at Elland Road dressed in shorts, t-shirt, flip-flops and a sombrero if the public demand is strong enough. The hashtag #sombreroforsteve has garnered almost 10,000 tweets over the last couple of days and Evans looks set to be true to his word and wear his beach attire. For how long and in what format remains unknown but the cameramen are sure to be packed around the away dugout when he emerges from the tunnel. Exactly how serious a fourth official could take a man swearing in his face dressed in flip-flops and a Mexican hat remains to be seen.

How focused will the Millers be?

Rotherham have played twice since Leeds last took the field and went through an emotional rollercoaster in their games with Norwich and then Reading, where they enjoyed the spectacular climax of guaranteeing their survival and all of the subsequent celebrations that came with it. Many of the squad were partying well into the early hours of Wednesday and the players did not report back to training until Friday morning. With Evans' sombrero pledge, it gives in an indication that now the job is done and safety is assured is, the intensity levels may not be at the gut-busting degrees of the last three games. How will the Millers perform on the comedown from the incredible high of Tuesday night? A side managed by Evans is never going to give less than 100 per cent, but if there was ever a candidate for a match being 'After the Lord Mayor's show' then this is it.


It's time to say goodbye, but to who?

The last game of any season also sees players making their final appearances for the clubs and this one will be no different for the Millers. Although Evans has hinted he would like to bring Jack Hunt and Daniel Lafferty to the club on a permanent basis next season, there is a chance that all five current loanees will not pull on the Millers shirt again so it could be a farewell appearance for Emi Martinez, Adam Hammill and Lawrie Wilson. But more of a concern for Millers supporters is that they could be bidding farewell to the likes of Craig Morgan and Ben Pringle. Both men, so integral to the success of the club over the last few seasons, are out of contract and deals have yet to be agreed, even though both have indicated they would like to stay. Last time the Millers went to Elland Road on the final day of the season everybody knew that there would be an exodus about to happen. Things are slightly different this time.

How will the Leeds circus play out?

While the visiting manager turning up in a sombrero could be considered a circus, that act is nothing compared what has been going on at Leeds this season and that could boil over on Saturday. Owner Massimo Cellino is currently under a Football League ban for being 'unfit and proper', but has been given permission to attend the game and it is unlikely he will want to be shunned of the limelight. Whether that is a grand entrance on the pitch or trying to stay inconspicuous, the cameras will also be trained on him. There is also almost certainly going to be some sort of reception for Neil Redfearn, who has steadied a rocky ship this season, with his future still in the air. Virtually all of Leeds' headlines this season have been for their off-the-field antics, will there be one final plot twist?

Ending on a high

The Millers have achieved plenty in each of their last three spells in the second tier, but one thing they have yet to do is win on the final day of the season - and two of them have been at Leeds. In the two-year stay at this level in the 1980s they lost to Wrexham and drew at Elland Road, while a memory-laden four years in the 2000s saw a defeat to Crewe, a draw with Nottingham Forest, a loss to Walsall and then another draw in West Yorkshire come on the final day. This is the first time they travel to Leeds knowing their stay in the division is not ending and they will hope to go out on a high. The Millers have won two of the three final games of the regular season that Evans has been in charge of and he would love nothing more than leaving Leeds with three points on Saturday afternoon.


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