Relegated in each of their last three seasons at this level, Paul Warne's Rotherham United have shown enough in their early fixtures for our regular contributor Ross Middleton to hope this time might be different despite the loss of key players over the summer.

Straight back again - what was the key to the promotion this time?

Keeping the spine of our team was crucial. Although we’ve lost a couple of main players this summer I always felt we were strong with the main men from the last Championship season. Also having crowds back was a big thing, Covid football was shit and I think the fans were so enthusiastic to get back that a rocking New York Stadium meant a good start and we never looked back until things started to go a bit wobbly towards the end of the season.

Rotherham league games so far…
Rotherham 1-1 Swansea Ogbene 16 — Darling 38
Rotherham 4-0 Reading Wood 7, Washington 15, Lindsay 18, Ogbene 45
Preston 0-0 Rotherham

Best players being poached, looks like it's been a tough summer?

Tough is an understatement. We held on and held on for vice-captain Michael Ihiekwe and top scorer Michael Smith until they decided to stay in League One with Wednesday which left us scrambling for other options. Of course managers and scouting teams say they have loads of targets and a list as long as our arms but it was such a massive blow to lose two main players at once, really felt for the manager.

It's been a peak and trough summer and I think a lot of teams are having trouble recruiting with the early start to the season and Premier League players coming back from tours so the loan market will pick up, but we’ve signed new players up to press who will hopefully improve the defence, however injuries have set us back in the forward department, leaving us short up top after injuries to Tom Eaves and Joshua Kayode.

How have your games gone so far?

Really encouraging. Five points from three games is a good return from games against Swansea, Reading and Preston. We conceded a lot of possession against Swansea and Preston, but we have looked really solid at the back, which Paul Warne knew he had to recruit well, and our pressing game negated Swansea so much that all their possession was in their own half really.

We’ve also gone two up front this season, despite only having two fit strikers, and looked to hit teams on the break, and we literally blitzed Reading with four first half goals. Moving Chieo Ogbene up front has been an excellent move, and our players have had more time on the ball, which allows them to show that they are more than capable of mixing it in this league.

How’s the transfer business inward going?

Recruitment has come in fits and starts but has been really good. You know our budget is very small compared to most clubs in this league but we have signed a mixture of experienced players in Conor Washington, Grant Hall and Lee Peltier and signings for the future such as Cameron Humphreys, Peter Kioso and Jamie McCart. Obviously losing two main players such as Michael Smith and Michael Ihiekwe has been a blow, but we have looked to play differently up front, with Conor Washington adding a different dimension to our play, and really is a Rotherham United-type player. We’ve suffered a lot of injuries in pre-season so we are about three players short, and have been in touch with the likes of Lewis Grabban about signing but to no avail. But on the whole very happy with the start to the season and the signings.

Ins >>> Peter Kioso, 22, RB, Luton, Undisclosed >>> Cohen Bramall, 26, LB, Lincoln, Undisclosed >>> Cameron Humphreys, 23, CB, Zulte Waregem, Free >>> Connor Washington, 30, CF, Charlton, Free >>> Tom Eaves, 30, CF, Hull, Free >>> Jamie McCart, 25, CB, St Johnstone, Free >>> Lee Peltier, 25, RB, Boro, Free >>> Grant Hall, 30, CB, Boro, Loan

Outs >>> Michael Smith, 30, CF, Sheff Wed, Free >>> Michael Ihiekwe, 29, CB, Sheff Wed, Free >>> Freddie Ladapo, 29, CF, Ipswich, Free >>> Angus MacDonald, 29, CB, Swindon, Free >>> Mickel Miller, 26, LW, Plymouth, Free >>> Joe Mattock, 32, LB, Harrogate, Free >>> Jake Cooper, 21, CB, Altrincham, Free >>> Jacob Gratton, 20, RW, Farsley, Free

How can it be different for Rotherham at Championship level this time? Will it be?

I’m hoping it will be different in that we pick up a few more wins instead of draws. The last two Championship seasons we’ve nearly stayed up. The 2019 season we drew 18 games and 2021 we went down on the last day, put simply we didn’t score enough goals or put the chances away. The loss of Smith and injury to Tom Eaves could help us become a little more mobile up front and not rely on being direct as much, with Chieo Ogbene (if still here come the end of August) playing more of a forward role. It could be a struggle, but I really believe there will be more points deductions for certain teams and other teams such as Blackpool, Reading and Huddersfield may have poor seasons, so we live in hope.

Links >>> Rotherham United official website >>> Sheffield Star — Local Press >>> Millers Banter — Forum

The Twitter @loftforwords, RossMid38810197

Pictures — Action Images

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TacticalR added 20:42 - Aug 19 Thanks to Ross. It sounds like it's not going to be easy, but at least Rotherham have recent experience of this division. It will be interesting to see how Grant Hall and Connor Washington, two players who have had their time at QPR, get on this season.
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