Rotherham United away: Preview

So after our run of straight wins came to an end at Peterboro on Saturday we resume our JPT Wembley campaign at Rotherham tonight...........well actually that's not entirely true as we will be going to the grand sounding Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield due to our hosts getting into a spot of financial trouble last season and having to quickly leave their Milllmoor home.  The stadium was built for the highly successful 1991 World Student Games and whilst it is a top class athletics venue it is hardly ideal for watching football from the distant terraces.  

Rotherham, although languishing in League 2, will be no push over as they have put together an early season run not unlike Leeds did last year to overturn a ridiculous points deduction and will not be lacking in confidence after their cup exploits this season.

Macca will be hoping that we have no warm up injuries tonight as we did at Peterboro and that we can get back on the goal trail after the last two games have yealded only a single goal.   I'm expecting him to stick with the majority of the starting line up to ensure we stay on course for Wembley.  If he does then there will extra focus on the double Becks spearhead after their fruitless efforts on Saturday................but hopefully not as vicious as the fan behind me at Peterboro who wanted to sell Beckford as he is a  "f****** useless lazy waste of time" I'm sure if Macca took this knowledgeable fan's advice their would be a long queue of teams from league 1 upwards knocking on his door trying to secure his signature!  So hopefully the criticism sets him up for his second televised hat trick of the season after his treble in 33 mins at Chester.

The Happy Chocker is working tonight so I will be making the short journey down the M18 alone.  I don't suppose the crowd will be that big given that the match is live on Sky and the fact that the Paint Pot cup is not the top of most peoples priority...............I suspect those priorities will change when/if we get to Wembley?

So I will be going for a 3:1 victory on a blustery night in Sheffield and going home with a hoarse voice and strained eyes.

MOT