Rotherham vs Watford prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2024-02-16 15:00.
Rotherham United would have been dreaming of a first win in 2024 when they took a fourth-minute lead against Hull City on Tuesday night, but an eventual 2-1 defeat means that the Millers have now won just one of their last 19 Championship matches (D7, L11) and remain rock bottom, sitting 12 points adrift of safety.
Rotherham won’t have fond memories of the reverse fixture against upcoming opponents Watford either as they were thrashed 5-0 – the latest demoralising result in an 11-game winless H2H streak (D4, L7). In a further negative omen, Rotherham have the worst defensive record in the division this season going into the weekend (GA59), while only 23rd-placed Sheffield Wednesday (24) have scored fewer than their 26.
Rotherham can at least cling to the fact that Watford are on a seven-match run without victory in all competitions (D3, L4), which has seen them exit the FA Cup and lose ground in their bid to finish in the play-off spots. Their most recent disappointment was a 4-2 defeat at Norwich City as the Hornets came back from 2-0 down, only for the hosts’ to quickly establish their two-goal lead in dismayingly quick fashion.
A big issue that manager Valérien Ismaël needs to address urgently is his side’s first-half performances, as Watford haven’t gone into the break with their noses in front in the league since their thumping of Rotherham in mid-November’s reverse. Ismaël does at least have a 100% record against the Millers though (W3), including doing the double over them whilst in charge of Barnsley in 2020/21.
Players to watch: Christ Tiéhi got Rotherham’s early opener in midweek and is the only outfield player in the squad to have started every Championship game since his arrival last August. Watford’s leading marksman Mileta Rajović will be licking his lips at the prospect of a visit to the New York Stadium after scoring twice in the reverse fixture and ending a six-match goal drought by netting at Norwich on Tuesday.
Hot stat: Watford have scored exactly once in five of their last seven away H2Hs.