English Championship: Game Week 33
Stadium: New York Stadium
17th February 2024
Rotherham United will welcome Watford at New York Stadium in Game Week 33 of the English Championship. Both teams are looking for a win to end their poor run of form. Who will come out on top after 90 minutes?
Receive Your Welcome Bonus!Rotherham United form
In their attempt to once again avoid being relegated from the Championship this season, Rotherham United is currently in a dire situation at the bottom of England's second division. They are currently in 24th place with only 19 points from their 31 matches played so far. Leam Richardson took charge of the team in mid-December after Matt Taylor left and was hopeful to turn the team's fortunes around. However, in the 11 league games he has overseen, Rotherham has only managed to earn six points. Their sole league victory under Richardson's leadership came against Middlesbrough on Boxing Day, and they have since held draws against Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers, and Middlesbrough again. In recent weeks, they have faced a string of difficult matches, resulting in three consecutive defeats. These losses include matches against promotion contenders Southampton and Leeds United, as well as a recent home match against Hull City, where they initially had the lead but eventually lost 2-1. With only 15 games remaining in the season, Rotherham United finds themselves seven points behind Sheffield Wednesday in 23rd place and 14 points away from safety. Time is running out for them to stage a comeback and avoid relegation. They are eager to return to winning ways this Saturday and begin closing the gap.
Rotherham United Predicted Lineup
Johansson; Kioso, Peltier, Morrison, Humphreys, Revan; Cafu, Tiehi, Clucas; Hugill, Nombe
Watford form
Their visitors, on the other hand, are also looking to end a difficult period of form which has caused them to fall behind in a separate battle at the bottom of the league. After appointing Valerien Ismael in the summer, Watford aimed to secure a playoff spot in the Championship this season. They had a promising position in mid-January after earning 39 points from 27 games, including a victory over Queens Park Rangers. However, they haven't been able to maintain their standing. They drew their next two matches against Bristol City and Sheffield Wednesday, extending their unbeaten streak to five games. But they then experienced three consecutive defeats before the weekend. Firstly, they lost 1-0 to Cardiff City, then 2-1 to Leicester City. Most recently, they suffered a 4-2 defeat against Norwich City, despite briefly equalizing with 20 minutes remaining. Due to their recent poor performance, Watford now find themselves six places and seven points behind the top six. They are eager to regain some momentum and climb back into contention by securing a much-needed victory against the last-placed team on Saturday.
Watford Predicted Lineup
Hamer; Dele-Bashiru, Hoedt, Pollock, Lewis; Kone, Livermore, Chakvetadze; Asprilla, Rajovic, Dennis
Rotherham United vs Watford Expert Tips
Despite Watford's current lack of form and momentum, they still possess a substantial amount of talent within their team and should have confidence in their ability to defeat a struggling Rotherham side. Expect only the away side to be on the scoresheet.