Rotherham vs Middlesbrough verdict, predicted score, key stats and suggested bets
- George Dempsey
- 30 April 2023
Relegation-threatened Rotherham and promotion-chasers Middlesbrough should serve up a thriller at the New York Stadium.
Rotherham will continue their fight against relegation when they welcome play-off hopefuls Middlesbrough to the New York Stadium.
Date, KO time and TV coverage
Championship, Monday, May 1, Kick-off 1pm, live on Sky Sports Red Button
Predicted score
Rotherham 2-2 Middlesbrough
Suggested bets
Both teams to score
Rotherham to win or draw
Key stats
Rotherham have been dragged back into the relegation dogfight after five matches without a victory.
Both teams have scored in six of Rotherham's last seven home league matches. All of those games have featured at least three goals.
Middlesbrough have enjoyed a good record against Rotherham, avoiding defeat in 13 of the last 15 meetings.
Middlesbrough's last six matches have seen 26 goals scored with both teams scoring in each of those.
Team news
Bailey Wright (ligament) and Sean Morrison (thigh) are unavailable for the hosts. Grant Hall (hamstring) is expected to return early in May, but this game may come too soon for him.
Aaron Ramsey (ankle), Riley McGree (ankle), Dael Fry (knock) and Matt Clarke (back) are all facing a race against time to be fit for the Championship play-offs.
Verdict
With their place in the Championship play-offs guaranteed, Middlesbrough will be looking to build some momentum for the postseason when they visit a Rotherham side battling relegation.
United are currently 20th in the table with 46 points and a goal difference of -12. Their goal difference could yet prove crucial, as they're three points above Reading but eight goals better off.
Reading's 93rd-minute equaliser against Wigan on Saturday means the Millers could need two more points to guarantee their survival. However, the result also relegated Wigan, meaning they've avoided an awkward last-day showdown at the DW Stadium.
After a fairly promising start to the season, Rotherham have won just four of their last 25 matches. Huddersfield may have leapfrogged them by kick-off on Monday, so it looks like Reading's point deduction was vital for the Millers.
Whilst Middlesbrough have nothing to play for, they will want to keep that winning feeling as they enter the playoffs. Whoever Boro meet in the playoffs, we know it will be a team that confirms their spot on the final day.
Teams with momentum are dangerous, so Michael Carrick will want his side to be in good form. Their 2-1 loss to Luton was a competitive game, and they are still unbeaten in three of four, scoring 11 goals.
We've reached the season stage where it will take something unexpected for a team to survive. Whilst Rotherham beating Middlesbrough doesn't seem likely, it's worth remembering Huddersfield did beat them 4-2 earlier this month.
One consistent trend with both of these sides is goals. Six of Rotherham's last seven home matches have featured at least three goals, with at least one side scoring twice.
The visitors have been free-scoring on their travels this season and there have been 17 goals in their last four away matches. The home side has to go for it at some stage and an open game should mean goals.
