Sheffield Wednesday vs Rotherham United Prediction: The teams are in relegation zone

Sheffield Wednesday will welcome Rotherham United at Hillsborough Stadium in Game Week 14 of the English Championship. The Yorkshire derby will see two teams fight it out while sitting in the relegation zone. Who will come out on top after 90 minutes?

When an individual with experience working at a prestigious club like Bayern Munich takes charge at a Championship club, there's an expectation that they possess the qualities to make an immediate impact.

However, Danny Rohl has swiftly come to understand the enormity of the challenge ahead of him at Hillsborough. The Owls suffered defeats of 1-0 and 3-0 against Watford and Plymouth Argyle since the international break. While some may find positives in only conceding an 82nd-minute goal in the first match, the outcomes have extended their goalless streak to six games. Additionally, Wednesday has managed to score just one goal in nine matches. Rohl acknowledges that his team cannot make progress toward safety until this offensive issue is resolved.

On a slightly more optimistic note, they have only conceded eight goals in their six home fixtures this season, having kept a clean sheet against Huddersfield Town on October 7.

In light of Wednesday's loss to Plymouth, Rohl is anticipated to make changes to his team. Will Vaulks and Jeff Hendrick are both vying for a return to the starting lineup. Michael Smith is likely to replace Lee Gregory upfront, and Reece James will be hopeful for an opportunity after his solid performance and clean sheet against Huddersfield before the international break. Rohl has mentioned that Callum Paterson is expected to rejoin the squad on Sunday after dealing with a leg issue. 

Potential starting lineup for Sheffield Wednesday: Dawson; James, Iorfa, Diaby, Famewo; Musaba, Vaulks, Bannan, Buckley; Windass, Smith

Some may perceive Rotherham as strong candidates for languishing in the relegation zone throughout the season, given their status as one of English football's yo-yo clubs and one of the smaller teams in this division.

However, it's worth noting that Rotherham has maintained a commendable record of not losing more than two consecutive matches for nearly a year. Recent fixtures against Southampton and Coventry City have yielded four valuable points for the club.

Despite an 18-day gap between these matches, the additional rest appeared to be a key factor as the Millers secured a 2-0 victory over last season's playoff finalists, with the second goal arriving in the closing stages.

Matt Taylor's team still finds themselves five points behind safety, a fact not lost on Rotherham's decision-makers. Nonetheless, they have accumulated eight points from their last eight games, indicating steady improvement after a slow start to the 2023-24 season.

Due to a growing list of injuries, Rotherham will have limited alterations, with Sebastian Revan potentially taking on a more advanced role on the left side instead of Arvin Appiah. Although Georgie Kelly made an impact as a substitute in the previous game, he is expected to remain on the bench, with Jordan Hugill maintaining his position upfront. 

Potential starting lineup for Rotherham United: Johansson; Lembikisa, Morrison, Peltier, Bramall; Rathbone, Tiehi, Cafu; Onyedinma, Hugill, Revan

Sunday's match is expected to be tense as Rohl strives to impress the home crowd. Although Wednesday may have the upper hand, Rotherham's enhanced confidence suggests a low-scoring draw or their win in our prediction. Expect a low scoring but an entertaining game.