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Apr 25, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
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Preview: Rotherham United vs. Norwich City

:Headline: Preview: Rotherham United vs. Norwich City: ID:218859: from db_amp
Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship encounter between Rotherham United and Norwich City.

Rotherham United host Norwich City in the Championship on Saturday, with both sides needing three points for different reasons.

Norwich are among four sides who can still win promotion automatically, while Rotherham are not yet safe from the drop into League One.



Rotherham United

Rotherham sit just four points ahead of Millwall in 22nd place, although they could face a three-point penalty for fielding an ineligible player.

The Millers will discover before Saturday's game if they will have points deducted after they played Derby defender Farrend Rawson in their win over Brighton on Easter Monday, despite his youth loan having expired.

The threat of a points deduction means that it is vital for Rotherham to take points from either Norwich or their final two games of the season against Reading and Leeds United.

Rotherham have kept themselves a reasonable distance away from bottom three for most of the season, but a run of just one win in six games has seen that gap close up, and manager Steve Evans will need his side to keep their nerve if they are to remain in the Championship.

They missed the opportunity to move six points away from the relegation zone when they drew 1-1 with Fulham in their last outing a week ago.

Recent form: LLLWLD



Norwich City

Few would have predicted that Norwich would be in the automatic promotion hunt come the end of the season when Alex Neil was appointed manager in January.

The Scot has silenced the doubters at Carrow Road, though, winning 14 of his 20 games in charge to propel the Canaries into the playoff places and in contention for a top-two finish.

Norwich currently sit fourth in the table, two points adrift of Bournemouth in second and a further point behind leaders Watford.

Their promotion bid suffered a blow last Friday when they lost 1-0 at home to Middlesbrough, who now sit above Norwich in third and level on points with Bournemouth.

Neil will know that the pressure is now on the sides above his in the table, and the Canaries boss will be looking for his side to beat Rotherham then Fulham at home on the final day of the season, in the hope that they can capitalise should one of the top two slip up.

Recent form: WWWWWL

Team News

Evans has no fresh injury concerns for his Rotherham side, but he might look to freshen things up following the draw at Fulham. Paul Green and Adam Hamill are pushing for starts, while Jordan Bowery could start in attack.

As for the visitors, Neil may respond to the defeat at the hands of Middlesbrough by making changes to his side.

Nathan Redmond could be brought back in after he had to settle for a place on the bench last time out, while Lewis Grabban will be hoping that he can start up front.

Cameron Jerome is expected to lead the line, having netted 18 goals in the Championship after a fine individual season.

Rotherham United starting lineup:
Martinez; Hunt, Morgan, Broadfoot, Lafferty; Smallwood, Green, Frecklington, Pringle; Bowery, Derbyshire

Norwich City possible starting lineup:
Ruddy; Whittaker, Martin, Bassong, Olsson; Howson, Tettey, Dorrans, Johnson, Hoolahan; Jerome



Head To Head

There was nothing to separate these sides in the last meeting earlier in the season, as goals from Green and Jerome saw a 1-1 draw played out at Carrow Road.

Norwich can take confidence from the fact that they boast a good record against their South Yorkshire opponents, having not lost to them in their last 11 meetings.

Since the sides first met in 1960, Norwich have had the upper hand over their 31 encounters, recording 12 wins compared to Rotherham's eight.


We say: Rotherham 0-2 Norwich

Norwich had tasted defeat just once in the 16 games prior to the Middlesbrough reversal, and Neil will be keen for his side to get back to winning ways.

Rotherham have won one of their last six in the league, so Norwich should feel confident that they can take all three points from the New York Stadium and maintain their pursuit of automatic promotion.



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