| Wrexham will be looking to bounce back from two
straight defeats but the Red Dragons face a difficult trip to high
flying Rotherham who top the overall and home form league.
Although Rotherham are not prolific scorers this season,
it is going to be a real test of character for the Wrexham defence with
Steve Evans on an unwanted hat trick after scoring own goals in the last
two games.
Mark Robins' side had recorded seven straight wins
until this was ended by a surprising 4-2 home defeat to Rochdale two
weeks ago and their match last weekend at Bradford was postponed because
of a frozen pitch.
This meant Rotherham remained in fifth position,
despite not playing, with a return of 36 points from their 18 games but
the Millers do have two games in hand on the teams above them in the
table.
During their impressive run in the league, Rotherham
did make a shock exit in the FA Cup when former Wrexham player, Jimmy
Harvey, took his Forest Green side to Millmoor and they left with a 3-0
victory after the original game ended 2-2.
Peter Holmes is top scorer for Rotherham so far this
season with seven goals in the league for the former Luton midfielder.
Chris O'Grady has also netted seven times this season
but three of his goals have come in cup competitions but he has gone
five games without scoring.
Manager Mark Robins is making a good task of steering
the Millers back into League One following their relegation last season.
Robins has been in charged since March this year, but
was unable to keep the Millers up and he wasn't helped after Rotherham
started the season on minus ten points for reaching an agreement with
creditors.
Recent Encounters:
The meeting at the Racecourse earlier on in the season
was the first match between the sides for five years with the Millers
coming out on top courtesy of a late second half goal from joint top
scorer Chris O'Grady.
Our last victory over Rotherham was over ten years ago
but we have only played them three times since and these all came in the
2000/01 season.
The first encounter was in the league but Rotherham
left the Racecourse with a 3-1 win and returned two months later in
November to knock us out of the FA Cup with the only goal of the game
coming just before half time.
The league game at Millmoor ended up with Rotherham
completing the treble with a comfortable 2-0 victory.
Our overall record against Rotherham in the league
sees us ahead on 32 wins compared to the Millers who are 9 behind on 23
and there has been 16 draws between the sides in the 71 games played
Team News:
Brian Little has included midfielder Matt Crowell and
defender Mike Williams in the squad to face Rotherham.
Williams is in as cover for Richard Hope who has been
struggling with a knock during the week but is expected to be fit, and
Crowell has until the end of the month to impress Brian Little before
his contract is up.
Brian Little has no other concerns with Danny Williams
and Juan Ugarte the only players unavailable.
Rotherham only have two injury worries for the start
of the festive period with striker Ryan Taylor who was injured two games
ago at Chesterfield whilst Peter Holmes is troubled with a hamstring
problem.
Goalkeeper Steve Cann is definitely unavailable as he
is a long term absentee whilst Jamie Anderson has returned to his parent
club, meaning Rotherham have ho substitute keeper with first team
experience.
Elsewhere in League Two:
Bottom placed Mansfield face a difficult trip to
seventh placed Chesterfield knowing that a win will not be enough to
see them climb out of the relegation zone as they sit four points adrift
of Dagenham who entertain fellow strugglers Notts County.
Lincoln are the next target for Wrexham and the Imps
also have a difficult task at home to Darlington but their confidence
has been boosted with a 4-1 victory last weekend over Barnet.
Grimsby are the other team close by but the Mariners
do have a five point cushion from us and they travel to a Stockport side
that sits in mid table.
At then other end of the table, the MK Dons will be
looking to confirm themselves as the Christmas number one when they
entertain our conquerors from last week as Brentford make the short trip
north up the M1 on the Friday night. |
