Fri Sep 18, 2015 2:27 pm
Preview: Rotherham United vs. Cardiff City
By Daniel Lewis, Football League Correspondent
Friday, September 18, 2015
Rotherham United play host to Cardiff City on Saturday afternoon still looking for their first league win of the season.
It has been a different story for the Welsh outfit, who head to the New York Stadium in high spirits despite dropping home points in their last outing.
With seven games of the Championship season now played, Rotherham are one of only two teams still without a single victory to their name.
It is no surprise, then, that the Millers and fellow winless side Blackburn Rovers currently occupy the bottom two places in the league table.
As each week passes the task facing Rotherham is likely to become more and more ominous, until they eventually manage to get over that initial hurdle of picking up a first three-point haul.
If that is to happen against Cardiff this weekend then Steve Evans needs to shore up his defensive unit, with no team in the second tier having conceded more than Rotherham's 16 goals against so far.
Evans is not entirely happy with his group of players, and has admitted heading into Saturday's match that he is looking to strengthen in certain areas during the emergency loan window.
So far the Peterborough United-linked boss has been unsuccessful with his attempts to bring in Premier League fringe players, but at least he has acknowledged that some further work is needed if his side is to survive.
Talk over the still-vacant position at London Road has certainly not helped matters, though Posh chief Darragh MacAnthony expects to have a new manager in place before the end of next week.
As far as Evans is concerned, he has continually played down links with the job, but if Rotherham's barren run continues then he may be handed his P45 to make any decision over his future that little bit easier.
Recent form in Championship: LDLLDL
Recent form (all competitions): DLLLDL
After a first real setback of the campaign against Hull City last time out, it will now be interesting to see how Russell Slade's Cardiff react in South Yorkshire.
A run of early-season draws left the Bluebirds in middle ground, but that was soon followed up by three wins on the bounce either side of the international break.
An unbeaten run stretching back nine games into last season finally came to an end against the Tigers in midweek, yet even still there were plenty of positives for supporters to take.
Cardiff dominated possession, which is one of the major improvements made by Slade over the summer, with Hull simply capitalising on their two openings when they popped up.
Speaking in the build-up to City's trip to Rotherham, Slade stressed the importance of his side learning from that first loss of the campaign and making the most of possession in the final third.
One man who certainly has the ability of making things happen up top is Joe Mason, who has rewarded his manager's faith by scoring three league goals so far from his league-high 12 shots on target.
No side has faced more shots on target this term that the Millers, incidentally, which the Bluebirds will look to build on in order to keep their top-six aspirations firmly on track.
Defeat on Tuesday night leaves Cardiff in sixth place after seven fixtures which, judging by most fans' views prior to a ball being kicked, is some achievement for former Leyton Orient chief Slade.
Recent form in Championship: DDDWWW
Recent form (all competitions): DWLWWL
Team NewsKirk Broadfoot of Rotherham United in action during the Pre Season Friendly match between Rotherham United and Nottingham Forest at The New York Stadium on July 23, 2014
Skipper Lee Frecklington missed the midweek defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion through injury, and will also sit out this weekend's clash.
Rotherham will also be without Kirk Broadfoot, who serves the final game of a 10-match suspension for his sectarian tirade against James McClean.
Former Wales international Danny Collins may profit from Frecklington's absence by being handed the captaincy for the visit of Cardiff.
In terms of the visitors, they could be without versatile defender Matt Connolly after he went off at half time against Hull due to illness.
Last season's Player of the Year, Bruno Ecuele Manga, is on standby if the Englishman fails to pass a fitness test, while Scott Malone, Craig Noone and Sammy Ameobi will all be desperate for a start.
Rotherham United possible starting lineup:
Camp; Buxton, Collins, Rawson, Mattock; Maguire, White, Smallwood, Newell; Clarke-Harris, Derbyshire
Cardiff City possible starting lineup:
Marshall; Peltier, Morrison, Manga, Fabio; Pilkington, Dikgacoi, Whittingham, Ralls; Mason, Jones