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Match Preview: Rotherham United v Leeds United - A Welcome Reclamation of Winning Form?
Friday, 25th Nov 2016 22:07 by Lucas Monk

After suffering merely a third home defeat of the season at the hands of league leaders Newcastle United last time out, Leeds United (7th) travel to local opposition Rotherham United (24th), in pursuit of what would be a most welcome return to winning ways.

In the days prior to last Saturday’s intriguing Elland Road encounter with Newcastle United, there was a succinct sense of optimism among the Leeds United fan base. The prospect of locking horns with a fellow heavyweight of the English game was one that was profoundly relished by the support, despite the chances of victory for the Whites appearing ominously meagre. An enthused crowd of approximately 36,000 clamoured to see the two sides do battle, and indeed it was Newcastle who would emerge as the conquistadors on the day; their success having eventuated by virtue of a Dwight Gayle brace.

On this specific occasion, Leeds were indeed defeated, but Garry Monk’s side, in no way whatsoever, disgraced themselves. Their performance was most certainly not one deserving of the austere lamentation that a vocal minority greeted it with on the typical avenues of social media. Conversely, the vast majority of us pragmatists, who base our reasoning upon the essential facts of the matter rather than putting forth arguments charged solely with pure emotion, opted to value the importance of perspective and refrain from being disparaging of the team when reflecting upon their performance.

Were we beaten? Quite. By a team assembled approximately to the tune of £54.7 million pounds. A team, whose cost of construction vastly eclipsed the comparatively meagre sum that we outlaid to build that of our own (£7.29 million). The indisputable truth of the matter is this; not many teams within the depressing confines of this wretched, hellacious division will be able to keep what is an affluently established goal-getting juggernaut at bay. Despite our defeat to a clinical coalition of supremely talented footballing technocrats, we remain in firm contention for a play-off berth. Let us continue to lend our audibly fervent backing to Garry and the players, who have done us proud thus far this season in spite of the spectre of our acerbic chairman, Massimo Cellino.

Tomorrow’s televised fixture, which will kick off at half-past five courtesy of our corporate contemporaries at Sky Sports, presents a considerably generous opportunity to secure a return to winning ways. Rotherham, despite being something of a thorn in our side in recent seasons thanks to embattled performances on their behalf, have endured a ruinous campaign to date, having already sacked one manager in Alan Stubbs, and having also attained just a single win in 17 league fixtures. There will be fewer more convenient times to recapture our winning form, and the onus is therefore upon us to take the opportunity with glee.

Team News

Rotherham United

The Millers are plagued by injuries at present, with no less than four first-team players currently consigned to the sidelines. Defender Kirk Broadfoot, along with influential, long-serving midfielder Lee Frecklington and striking duo Dexter Blackstock and Jonson Clarke-Harris, will all play no role in tomorrow’s proceedings.

The dire situation at the New York Stadium will only be further exacerbated if fleet-footed winger Jon Taylor, the club’s marquee summer signing, is also deemed to be in a state of disrepair. The absence of Taylor, who was acquired from Peterborough United of League One for a sum in the region of £1 million, would only inflict more anguish upon the already struggling Kenny Jackett, as the 24 year-old is Rotherham’s second-highest contributor with regard to goals scored (3), trailing only the talismanic figure of Danny Ward (8).

Leeds United

Leeds have their own fair share of notable absentees, albeit not on the exact same scale as their South Yorkshire counterparts. The dearth of tough-tackling ball winner Liam Bridcutt and the creative conjuror Pablo Hernandez is sure to be felt, as will be the non-attendance of Pontus Jansson, who is presently suspended after obtaining a fifth yellow card of the season against Newcastle last time out.

On a marginally more positive note however, wingers Hadi Sacko and Stuart Dallas are both in contention for recalls.

Probable Lineups

Rotherham United (4-2-3-1) - Camp, Fisher, Halford, Wood, Mattock; Vaulks, Adeyemi: Brown, Newell, Odemwingie; Ward.

Leeds United (4-2-3-1) - Green; Ayling, Bartley, Cooper, Taylor; O’Kane, Vieira; Sacko, Phillips, Roofe; Wood.

Media: The thoughts of Leeds head coach Garry Monk and Rotherham manager Kenny Jackett prior to the match

Leeds United head coach Garry Monk has professed that he is anticipating a testing encounter when his side, who sit seventh in the table at this present time, make the short excursion to Rotherham’s New York Stadium tomorrow evening.

In his customary interview with the Whites’ official website, Monk’s prefatory comments saw him divulge his personal assessment of the past few days.

“We look good, we’ve had a good week’s training so far, everyone is determined and focused,” said Monk.

“Last weekend we were really disappointed with the result, we can take a lot out of the game though, it was a really good learning process for a lot of the younger players.”

The 38 year-old continued by providing an update on his side’s team news.

“Liam Bridcutt is back out on the pitches this week, hopefully he will be back into full training at some point next week.

“Pablo Hernandez is going to be missing probably for another two or three weeks which is really disappointing.

“I trust everyone in the squad though, they all understand their responsibilities, the whole squad will be used this season and everyone will contribute.”

Monk concluded his interview with some generous remarks regarding opposition manager Kenny Jackett, with whom he previously collaborated with at Swansea City, as well as paying the potential fiery ambience of the game a tad of acknowledgement.

“I have a great respect for Kenny, he took me to Swansea and was fantastic with me, he is a very good and experienced manager.

“We are expecting a very difficult game, it is a derby game and the passion and spirit always comes out from the fans on these occasions and we are preparing for that.”

Meanwhile, Rotherham impresario Kenny Jackett spoke of his desire to see his team translate their laborious endeavour on the training pitches of Roundwood into league points.

The Millers manager was effusive in his praise for the commitment of his side in training sessions, but he did concede that if his charges are to begin a miraculous ascent out of the mire of the relegation places, they would have to start attaining those levels in competitive action also.

“We're working hard and we need to see it on a Saturday,” stressed the former Millwall boss when speaking with Rotherham’s official website.

He elaborated further; “The players work hard and they're a diligent bunch in terms of their training but so far, in terms of the match days we've just been just below the level too many times and that's resulted in a poor league position but that will improve as we go.

“We did okay against Derby County and had two or three corners in the first 15 minutes but then gave two poor goals away which we're very disappointed with.

“That gave them control of the game so wherever it is, our concentration must be high as a team right the way through the 95 minutes that are played.

“The more we work and the more the season goes on, we have to get toward performances that we want," concluded an under pressure Jackett.

Match Facts

Rotherham, who are looking to end a barren run of 13 games without victory, have won four of their last five home games against Leeds (losing one) in all competitions.

Leeds have failed to win in any of their last seven league encounters with the Millers (drawing three and losing four) and lost both league fixtures last season, although the former were 2-0 victors in an FA Cup tie between the sides at Elland Road, far back in January.

Leeds have conceded more goals from corners than any other side in the division this season (seven).

Star Men

Rotherham United: Danny Ward, Striker - (7.04 WhoScored statistical rating)

A product of the revered Leeds United youth system, the 25 year-old attacker, who hails from Bradford, has been one of the few shining lights within the Rotherham United team this season. His tally of eight Championship goals accounts for 47% of the goals Rotherham have scored altogether this season (17), a bewildering statistic but one that nonetheless serves to vindicate the opinion that he is a more than competent influence at Championship level. Prying eyes elsewhere are all too aware of that fact, and should the plight of the Millers continue, and there is no resurgent renaissance on the part of the team, then you will inevitably draw the conclusion that there is no viable way in which Rotherham can cling onto his services in January.

Indeed, if I were in the shoes of Garry Monk in the upcoming window, I’d look to Ward as a potentially prodigious option if I sought to bolster my side’s goalscoring arsenal with additional personnel. Ward’s indispensable pace, coupled with the convenience of his versatility and willingness to fulfill any attacking task that is delegated to him, make him the most potent threat that Rotherham have to offer. He is their sole, shimmering star, the one chink of light that filters through into the glum glare of an increasingly disillusioned Millers contingent amidst all the dark uncertainty of their predicament.

Leeds United: Eunan O’Kane, Central Midfielder - (6.81 WhoScored statistical rating)

The 25 year-old Republic of Ireland international, who was signed in the dying embers of the summer transfer window from Premier League Bournemouth, has acclimatized exceptionally well into his relatively new surroundings at Elland Road. A calm, composed presence on the ball and an energetic, harried pest to the opposition when off it, O’Kane has proven to have been more than adequate value for money. He possesses a flexible range of passing that will prove key if Leeds are to capture all three points from tomorrow’s match. In his 11 Championship starts this season, he has already assisted two goals, while maintaining a respectable pass completion rate of 78.6% - a statistic that surpasses that of fellow midfielders Kalvin Phillips (77.3%), and Pablo Hernandez (73.4%). In the absence of the latter, O’Kane may have to contribute a little more when Leeds are on the offensive, but it is a duty that you’d expect him to fulfill with a diligence and industry that is symptomatic of a truly adept Championship player.

Writer's View

After somewhat expectedly having defeat imposed upon us by a far more affluent side in the form of Newcastle, we travel to Rotherham United, who presently prop up the Championship table, but who have also proven a bogey side for us in the recent past. We are yet to taste success against them in league competition since their return to the second tier in 2014, but there’s a first for everything.

In seasons gone by, Rotherham would, in the manner of an evidently adept absconder, evade disaster by averting a seemingly immitigable crisis right at the last. But this season appears as though it will end in tears for the South Yorkshire minnows. Bottom of the table. One win. An unhealthy overdependence upon one player whom they turn to for goals, and a side who look haplessly out of their depth.

Indeed if there were ever a time for us to break the cruel curse of the Millers, you’d think it would be tomorrow, and to believe so is plausible, although the absence of many first-team players on both sides of the divide may culminate in a scrappy affair being played out. I fully expect us to see to the task at hand though, so I’ll plump for a 2-0 victory for Leeds.

Prediction - Rotherham United 0-2 Leeds United

Statistics derived from WhoScored.com

Photo: Action Images



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