Rotherham vs Birmingham preview
Sunday 21 April 2019 14:13, UK
Matt Crooks will be hoping he has done enough to keep his place in Paul Warne's starting XI when Rotherham host Birmingham on Easter Monday.
Midfielder Crooks was handed a starting spot at Swansea last time out after coming off the bench to score against Stoke a week earlier, and he repaid Warne's faith in him with another goal in Wales.
The Millers lost Friday's game 4-3 and, with other results going against them at the foot of the Championship table, they find themselves three points adrift of 21st-placed Millwall - who have a game in hand. Zak Vyner is likely to keep his place despite taking a whack in the second half against Swansea.
Garry Monk will run the rule over his Birmingham squad ahead of their second game in four days. Monk reported "a few bumps and bruises" following the 2-2 draw against play-off chasers Derby but he is expected to name a similar side in South Yorkshire.
Blues forward Lukas Jutkiewicz was taken off in the 79th minute on Friday due to cramp but is likely to keep his place in the starting line-up. Isaac Vassell is an option for Monk should he choose to mix things up.
Opta stats
Rotherham have won one of their last 14 league games against Birmingham (W1 D6 L7), a 2-0 away win in September 2015.
Birmingham are unbeaten in their last six away league visits to Rotherham United (W1 D5 L0) since losing 1-5 in October 1989.
Rotherham have won seven of their last nine home league games on Easter Monday (W7 D1 L1), winning each of the last three 1-0.
Birmingham have lost their last four league games on Easter Monday and are winless in eight (W0 D2 L6) since a 3-2 win over Southampton in April 2003.
Birmingham boss Garry Monk has won each of his four previous managerial meetings against Rotherham with three different clubs (one with Swansea, two with Leeds, one with Birmingham).
Lukas Jutkiewicz has scored four goals in three Championship games against Rotherham for Birmingham, including a hat-trick in the reverse fixture back in October earlier this season.
Prutton's prediction
Rotherham battled incredibly hard in their 4-3 defeat to Swansea last time out and that's the thing about Paul Warne's squad; what they lack in star quality, they make up for with their unbreakable fighting spirit.
The recent nine-point deduction imposed upon Garry Monk's men has done little to affect some brilliant performances, though I just have a feeling the Millers - who are three points from safety ahead of kick-off - will sneak a valuable win.
Prutton predicts: 1-0 (9/1 with Sky Bet)
