Rotherham vs West Brom preview
Friday 21 December 2018 13:30, UK
Rotherham defender Sean Raggett is expected to return to contention for the home game against West Brom.
Raggett missed last week's home draw against Reading due to illness but is ready to return to action for the Millers.
Striker Kyle Vassell has had a second scan on his groin and is hoping to return to full training before the end of the month. Boss Paul Warne has no new injury concerns as his side chase their first win in seven league matches.
West Brom are expected to name an unchanged line-up. The Baggies won 2-1 at Sheffield United last time out and are boosted by the returns to full training of striker Hal Robson-Kanu, defender Kyle Bartley and midfielder James Morrison.
Bartley has missed seven games with a knee injury while Morrison has been out for two games with muscle fatigue. Robson-Kanu has been nursing a knee problem, but all three are likely to have to wait a little longer for their competitive returns.
Opta stats
This will be the first meeting in any competition between Rotherham United and West Brom since August 2009, when the Millers lost 3-4 during a League Cup encounter.
West Brom have only lost one of their previous four visits to Rotherham in all competitions (W2 D1), a 1-2 defeat in November 2001 - a match in which current Baggies manager Darren Moore netted a 90th minute consolation goal.
There have been 77 goals scored in West Brom's Championship fixtures this season (46 scored, 31 conceded) - a joint-high with Aston Villa.
10 of Rotherham's last 13 Championship games have been draws, with the Millers winning one and losing the other two.
Rotherham have lost just one of their 11 home Championship matches this season (W4 D6).
West Brom's Harvey Barnes has been directly involved in 14 league goals this season (8 goals, 6 assists), more than any other Baggies' player.
Prutton's prediction
It was yet another draw for Rotherham last week against Reading and, remarkably, 10 of their last 13 games in the Championship have ended in stalemates, having drawn none of their first nine.
West Brom will be delighted with the way they came back to win at Sheffield United but they need to keep up winning if they are going to keep with the pace of Leeds and Norwich. Having said that, I think Rotherham could frustrate them and I reckon they could cause a bit of a surprise.
David Prutton predicts: 2-1 (12/1 with Sky Bet)
