Millers Keen For Early Home Win

It was of course a horrendous season suffered by the Millers last time, racking up a meagre 29 points and a sum total of five league wins on their way to relegation that was confirmed by early April.

Following a huge turn around in players, the Millers have had a relatively productive pre-season performance wise that have shown glimpses of potential and some great football was played a long the way but three matches against League Two opposition have brought about no wins which may cause some concern to rookie manager, Mick Harford, whose main aim for the season surely has to be consolidation.

All change at Millmoor. Will that include the results??

Rotherham will be keen to get off the mark early at Millmoor, where they had to wait until the end of December for a win last season, against opposition they have become well accustomed to over recent years in Walsall. The West Midlands men travel to Millmoor on the back of a consolidation season of their own following their relegation from Division One in 2004 but will be hoping for better things this time around.

Andy Monkhouse is the only guaranteed absentee for the Millers as he battles with a long term injury whilst Michael Keane is in the reckoning for a start after recovering from a hamstring injury. Chris Westwood, who was a summer target for Rotherham is unable to play after he was sent off in the play off final for his former club Hartlepool and is therefore serving a three match ban.

Mick Harford is expected to give debuts to at least four players and has warned the Rotherham faithful not to expect miracles. Speaking to the club’s official site (www.themillers.co.uk) he said: "There would be nothing better than to get off to a winning start tomorrow and after last season's troubled times, we have to get back that successful mentality. But sometimes a team does not hit it off immediately and if that's the case then we ask the supporters to be patient."

Rotherham have a good recent record against the Saddlers at Millmoor having won two and drawn one of their last three games. The last Walsall victory was ironically on the opening day of the 2000-01 season, which of course was THAT season where the Millers amazingly won promotion and were eventually followed by Walsall who achieved play off glory. The Millers won’t mind losing tomorrow if history repeats itself in the same way come May.

Millersmad Prediction: Rotherham United 1-1 Walsall

JV