Stoke City v Rotherham United – Preview

  Stoke meet League Two Rotherham United tonight in the Carling Cup with the teams over seventy places apart in the Football League. however, it isn’t too long ago that many a Stoke fan would have gladly swapped fortunes with those of the South Yorkshire club. Seven years ago to be precise, Rotherham were clawing their way to survival in what’s now the Championship while the Potters were playing out another promotion push destined to end in failure a division below.

  The following season Stoke were to win promotion though, with the Millers going the other way in 2005. The club then hit financial difficulties and numerous periods of administration and points deductions followed. Rotherham were relegated to their current level at the end of the 2006/07 season and a ten point deduction put paid to any hopes of bouncing straight back up.

  The future of the club itself was in doubt this summer, a dispute meaning Rotherham’s historic Millmoor Stadium would not be used resulting in Mark Robins’ men making a temporary home at the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield. Further financial irregularities led to this season being started with a seventeen point deficit, that that the Millers have done well to claw back following good early season form. The club currently sit 21st in the league, and would be in the play-off positions if it were not for their point deduction.

  The League Cup has provided a welcome distraction from off the pitch troubles this season, and Rotherham have already knocked out three Championship sides, defeating neighbours Sheffield Wednesday, Wolves and Southampton on the way to this fourth round clash. That being said, a win is all the Stoke support will expect from tonight’s encounter.

Current Rotherham squad:

Name:                             Age:                   Position:                    Rotherham appearances:

Andy Warrington             32                        Goal                                        71

Dale Tonge                     23                      Midfield                                     54

Mark Lynch                    27                       Defence                                      9

Danny Harrison             26                       Midfield                                      67

Ian Sharps                     28                        Defence                                    100

Nick Fenton                  28                        Defence                                      20

Michael Cummings       30                        Midfield                                      18

Mark Burchill                28                         Forward                                      13

Mark Hudson                28                        Midfield                                       49

Stephen Brogan            20                         Defence                                       63

Marc Joseph                 32                          Defence                                       46

Alex Rhodes                 26                          Forward                                       21

Jamie Yates                  19                           Forward                                       29

David Haggerty            17                           Defence                                        1

Jamie Green                  19                           Forward                                       15

Ryan Taylor                  20                           Forward                                       42

Tom Cahill                    21                           Forward                                       8

Drewe Broughton          30                           Forward                                       17

Reuben Reid                 20                           Forward                                       19

Andy Nicholas              25                           Defence                                       17

Pablo Mills                    24                           Defence                                       54

Richie Barker                 33                           Forward                                        8

Steven Cann                  20                             Goal                                            0

Jamie Annerson            20                              Goal                                           1

 

STAR MAN: Reuben Reid

The 20 year old is enjoying a productive first season with the Millers, after signing from Plymouth, playing in attack and out wide, scoring six goals from seventeen starts. He is currently the club’s top scorer and is fit to face Stoke after recovering from injury.

 

                                           

                                                 The 25,000 capacity Don Valley Stadium