Sheffield United vs. Rotherham Prediction – Blades Host Promotion Chasers

As the teams approach the final rounds of a long League One season, two sides meet with their eyes on different prizes. Rotherham currently find themselves in third place, six points below the automatic promotion spots. With a playoff position assured, it could be time for the Millers to chase down that second place spot. Conversely, Sheffield United are in the mid table hinterland. With promotion unattainable and little threat of relegation, most sides would have half a mind on their holidays. Instead, the Blades have a trip to Wembley to occupy their thoughts. An FA Cup semi-final against Hull provides the potential for further advancement, perhaps at the expense of their seemingly meaningless league games.

With Wolves leading the pack, Rotherham could be considered the only other form team in the league. With no losses in their last ten matches, and with seven wins, they could be hitting stride at the perfect time. As the league’s highest scorers, their somewhat leaky defence could prove too weak to withstand a title challenge, but their abilities in front of goal could secure the automatic promotion which comes with second place. With the playoffs being considered by many to be a lottery, finding a way to leapfrog Brentford could be the best way in which to secure Championship football for next season.

Ten points clear of a tightly contested relegation place, Sheffield United might well consider themselves safe for another season. After stringing together a short run of form, the security of mid table has seen the side slip into a series of losses and draws, with a win over Crawley being their only result of note. However, with the trip to Wembley only a week away, there could be a temptation to rest players in order to make the most of a potential cup upset. While Nigel Clough has not quite reaches the high standards set by his father, taking a League One team to a FA Cup final could be considered a fine accomplishment.

Steve Evans continues to enjoy the benefits of a healthy side and will look to have almost a full squad at his disposal. After returning from a thigh injury, Wes Thomas has struggled to get into the team, but the manager might see this as a fine opportunity to ease him back into form. Since losing Mark Bradley for the season, Rotherham have had little to worry about with regards to injuries, which might be one of the key factors in their late push to crash into the top two. With half an eye on the FA cup, Clough will likely want to ease his strikers - Baxter and Porter - back into the team. The duo have sixteen goals between them, but have both carrying knocks in recent weeks. Their goals may well be vital if the team is to make an impact in the cup competition. With Bob Harris and Matt Hill unlikely to return, it could well be a makeshift defence which lines up at Bramall Lane.

When the teams met in September, Rotherham came from a goal down to win 3-1. With different aspirations for the final few weeks of the season, a similar result could well be likely. As Rotherham might be keen to increase their goal difference, and possibly facing up against a patchwork back four and a team resting their best strikers, an indifferent Sheffield United could play perfectly into Rotherham’s hands.

Sheffield United

P40 W14 D11 L15

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Rotherham

P40 W22 D12 L6

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Prediction: Sheffield United 0 – 3 Rotherham