Rotherham vs Southampton prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2024-02-02 15:00.
If Rotherham are to have any chance of surviving relegation, a revival must start now as they enter the round nine points adrift of safety. Leam Richardson’s men earned a creditable 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough last time out, and as the Millers have lost just one of their last five league matches (W1, D3), there are early signs that improvements are being made.
Wins are what matters now though, and as Rotherham have managed just one from their last 17 matches in all competitions (D7, L9), it’s hardly a feeling they’re used to. The visit of one of the most in-form sides in the country in Southampton comes at an inopportune time then, but as Rotherham haven’t lost a H2H since April 1965 (W4, D2), perhaps their fans may retain a shred of hope.
Southampton are targeting a Championship escape from the other exit and they come into this round of fixtures only one point behind the automatic promotion places. The Saints are a whopping 39 points better off than their bottom-of-the-table hosts, and travel north unbeaten in a club record 22 matches (W15, D7) across all competitions.
Russell Martin has strengthened his squad this week with the loan signing of winger David Brooks from Bournemouth, a man with two previous promotions from the second-tier on his CV. The Welsh international will be hoping to inspire an improvement on Southampton’s travelling form, as they’ve failed to win four of their last six road trips (W2, D4), scoring exactly once in five of those matches.
Players to watch: Rotherham striker Jordan Hugill scored the equaliser in a 1-1 H2H draw in October, with 14 of his last 15 goalscoring league games now seeing his side on the day avoid defeat. Stuart Armstrong has been in form across his last three matches (G1, A3) and scored the opener in the reverse fixture, a goal which forms part of a streak of eight of his last nine being Southampton’s first of the match.
Hot stat: Rotherham have scored before half-time in just one of their last seven matches.