Rotherham vs Leeds United tips and predictions: Resilient Millers to run Whites close

The Millers will be hoping to spring a famous upset at the New York Stadium on Friday night.

Rotherham vs Leeds United team news

Tyler Blackett and Cameron Humphreys are absent for the hosts who will also asses Sam Clucas, Cafu and Daniel Ayala before the game.

Shane Ferguson and Andre Hall are also ruled out but Grant Hall could return.

Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Dan James, Ilia Gruev and Glen Kamara all came through senior international duty unscathed.

Sam Byram, Jamie Shackleton, Willy Gnonto and Joe Gelhardt are all doubts but Pascal Struijk and Djed Spence could soon return.

Suggested bets

Rotherham +1.25 Asian handicap

Georginio Rutter to score

Both teams to score

Key stats

- Rotherham avoided defeat in three of four meetings with the top two finishers in the previous two seasons and have already held Ipswich in 2023.
- Leeds United have failed to win five of nine away games in all competitions.
- Both teams have scored in 13 of the previous 16 games at New York Stadium.

Rotherham vs Leeds verdict

Rotherham’s 5-0 defeat at the hands of Watford signalled the end of the road for manager Matt Taylor.

The ex-Exeter City centre-back had a tough act to follow in Paul Warne but admirably helped the Millers secure their Championship status last season.

The South Yorkshire club are now languishing in the bottom three and could find themselves as far as seven points adrift by the end of the week.

Leeds United took their time finding form under Daniel Farke but six wins in seven has seen them close the gap to Ipswich and Leicester.

The bookmakers have declared this game a foregone conclusion by pricing Leeds at the wafer-thin price of 4/11.

Millers fans who watched their side hold Ipswich to a 2-2 draw and come within minutes of frustrating Leicester might beg to differ.

While it may take something special to topple the Whites at Elland Road, Leeds have already lost three times on their travels and could only draw 0-0 at Hull.

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All four of their wins have come in high-profile games against teams happy to attack them, whereas Stoke and Birmingham were able to spring a surprise by sitting deep.

Leeds have won three of the previous 10 meetings by two clear goals but all of those were at home.

Promoted sides Burnley and Sheffield United also failed to win the New York Stadium last season so it would be foolish to fall foul of the bookmaker's valueless odds on a Leeds win.

It does make sense that Farke’s side are heavily favoured and you suspect they’ll find a way through eventually, but not before the hosts give them a scare.

It may take some creative genius to find a way through the low-block and Georginio Rutter is also the standout candidate.