Optimism is high at the start of a new era and the trip to Griffin Park represents a great chance to begin it with a win.
Here's five things to look out for in the game.
What will a Neil Redfearn side look like?
As when any new manager comes into a club, Redfearn will want to put his own slant on the side in terms of tactics, style of play and maybe even personnel. Redfearn has stated in his first few days at the club that his side will have a different way of playing than that of Steve Evans' team, while hoping to retain that fighting spirit. That is almost certain to include trying to implement a passing mentality which sees the Millers keep the ball better while becoming much more resolute. It's unlikely we will get a definite idea of how Redfearn likes to play at Griffin Park given he's just had a few days to work with the players, but we will get some sighters and it's an exciting prospect.
Music to Danny Ward's ears
Danny Ward put have been grinning like a Cheshire cat when he heard Redfearn say that he wanted to sign him when he was Leeds manager. A new boss coming in gives every player a boost as they look to impress, but when you find out he was already a fan must inspire particular confidence. And it could be just what Ward needs to kick-start his Rotherham career which has so far been stuttering at best. Every time the former Huddersfield man has began to showcase his talent he has suffered an injury set-back that has kept him out of the side. This season, where he was highlighted as a real key player before it got underway, has been no different and he has not started since the opening day of the season. He has featured off the bench in the last two days and surely must fancy his chances of earning a start at Griffin Park.
Hitting the ground running
It's not always the case, but usually there is a spike in a club's results when a new manager comes in as players all raise their game in a bid to impress or perhaps just respond to fresh methods on the training ground. And given the Millers' run of fixtures over the next five weeks, they could definitely do with hitting the ground running at Griffin Park. Not only is this a game against a side that are immediately above them in the table, though sharing an identical record, the clash with the Bees precedes a run of games that sees the Millers take on three of the current top seven, two on the road, and two local derbies. It is a real baptism of fire for the Redfearn and the result in west London could end up being vital.
Fresh starts
The way Steve Evans managed the club was that when you were out, you were out and it had to take something special for a player to be able to win their place back in the side. Now under a new regime everyone gets the chance to stake their claim again and Redfearn will be coming in with a blank canvas. This may particularly suit the likes of Greg Halford, Frazer Richardson, Emmanuel Ledesma and Tom Thorpe. All four of those have struggled for game time in recent weeks while Halford's future at the club looked in jeopardy after his Twitter antics ahead of the Burnley clash. Redfearn says that everyone has a clean slate and that means competition for places should go through the roof and that can only benefit the team.
A good time to play Brentford?
While offering the caveat that every game is a tough game in the Championship, it's potentially a good time for the Millers to visit Brentford. The Bees are a far cry from the one that got to the play-off semi-finals last season under Mark Warburton and their decision to go in a different direction last summer has hit early stumbling blocks. They have already dispensed of Marinus Dijkhuizen and Lee Carsley, who was appointed as his replacement until the end of the season, has overseen defeats in his first two games in charge. They have lost three games on home soil already this season, conceding 10 goals, so the Millers should hold no fear.
