Our prediction for this Championship match:
Out-of-sorts Rotherham United will look to put an end to their four-game losing run in the Championship when they face Middlesbrough on Matchday 24. The Millers do not seem to be at their sharpest and given their difficulties at the back, home win should not be considered. The good news for the home team is that defender Daniel Ayala is back from suspension, while all Fred Onyedinma, Cafu, Andre Green, Tyler Blackett, and Cameron Humphreys, and Shane Ferguson remain in the treatment room.
The Boro, on the other hand, are on a three-game winning run in all competitions ahead of the Boxing Day clash. Middlesbrough are more of a team than Rotherham United and we predict that the visitors are going to showcase their worth on the field. The visitors will be without Darragh Lenihan, Lewis O’Brien, Tom Smith, Marcus Forss, Hayden Hackney, Patrick Mcnair, and Emmanuel Latte Lath in Tuesday’s encounter.
Highlighted Player (Paddy McNair):
Following in the footsteps of his compatriot Jonny Evans, Paddy McNair joined the Manchester United academy in 2011 and he was surprisingly handed first team debut by Louis van Gaal at the start of the 2014/2015 season.
Despite his fragile age, the talented central defender has been putting in some very mature performances ever since, and everything suggests he could go on to become an important player at Old Trafford in years to come. After representing a number of youth sides, McNair made his first appearance for the Northern Ireland senior national team in a March 2015 friendly vs Scotland, before making another three outings as his side secured their place at the Euro 2016 finals.
Northern Ireland coach Michael O’Neill surprisingly played McNair in holding midfield in the March 2016 friendly vs Wales. After the youngster impressed in the middle of the park, O’Neill went on to suggest that the Manchester United starlet may be used in midfield rather than defence in years to come in the national team.
Highlighted Team (Rotherham):
Rotherham United are an English club that compete in the Championship. Rotherham United are located in Rotherham, South Yorkshire and they play their home games at New York Stadium and the capacity of the venue is 12,021.
The club was founded in 1925 as a merger between Rotherham County and Rotherham Town. The colour of Rotherham’s home kit was originally yellow and black, but nowadays they were red and white jerseys. The Millers made it to the FA Cup fifth round on two occasions (1952/1953, 1967/1968) and they have yet to play in the Premier League.
Rotherham United have won the Football League One twice (1950/1951, 1980/1981), but the club’s biggest success is participation in the 1960/1961 League Cup final. Sheffield United are regarded as Rotherham United’s fiercest rivals, but the likes of Sheffield Wednesday and Doncaster could be considered Rotherham’s big rivals as well.