MATCH PREVIEW: ROTHERHAM VS CARDIFF CITY
Match Previews
22nd September
Cardiff City travel north to take on Rotherham United on Saturday in their latest Sky Bet Championship fixture. The Bluebirds will be looking to bounce back from disappointing recent results and to record their first away win of the campaign.
THE OPPOSITION
The Millers welcome City to Yorkshire without a win in their last four Championship matches, losing 4-2 to Blackburn Rovers in their most recent outing. United actually took the lead through Danny Ward, but then conceded three goals without reply. Ward managed to double his tally for the afternoon to give his side hope, but Sam Gallagher tapped in during injury time to settle the contest.
United’s last win came towards the end of August when they beat Brentford 1-0 at home, thanks to another Danny Ward strike.
Those two goals against Blackburn took Ward on to four goals for the season, making the forward top scorer for the Millers. The Bluebirds will also have to be wary of Isaiah Brown, a season-long loan signing from Chelsea. The 19-year-old forward has already opened his account for the Millers after scoring in his side’s 2-2 draw with Bristol City earlier this month.
CLUB CONNECTIONS
The Bluebirds signed Republic of Ireland international, Alan Lee, from the Millers in the summer of 2003, shortly after clinching promotion to the First Division via the play-offs. The striker went on to score ten goals for the Bluebirds in 86 appearances.
Other players to have represented both United and City include Leo Fortune-West, Adam Le Fondre and Alex Revell.
CONNECT FOUR: ROTHERHAM UTD & CARDIFF CITY
MEMORABLE MEETING
An entertaining match-up between the two sides took place during the 2004/05 Championship campaign, where the Bluebirds ran out 2-0 winners at Ninian Park. This was the first season that the English second tier had been known as the Championship, having changed from the English First Division at the end of the the previous campaign.
City skipper, Graham Kavanagh went close inside the first twenty minutes when he volleyed Peter Thorne’s knock down just wide of the post. Both sides had further chances to break the deadlock but the first period finished goalless.
The Bluebirds came out with renewed intent in the second half and soon took the game away from the Millers. Their first goal arrived following a pinpoint cross from full back Chris Barker that was clinically headed in by Thorne. The big striker then doubled his advantaged with around 15 minutes remaining with another header. This time he directed Gary O’Neill’s corner into the back of the net to secure all three points for City.
AWAY DAY FACTS
- Rotherham United were founded in 1925 following a merger between Rotherham Town and Rotherham County. The club’s colours were initially yellow and black but eventually changed to the red and white the club wears today.
- The Millers appeared in the inaugural League Cup final in 1961. They faced Aston Villa but lost 3-2 on aggregate, in what was a two legged affair at the time.
- The Club moved into their current home, The New York Stadium, at the beginning of the 2012/13 season, following four years of using the Don Valley Stadium as their temporary ground.
- Rotherham finished five points above the bottom three last season in 21st position.
DON'T MISS A MOMENT
TICKETS: Online: www.eticketing.co.uk/cardiffcity Phone: 0845 345 1400
LISTEN: Supporters can listen in live on Cardiff City Player HD* for all the action from City vs the Millers.
WATCH: Extended highlights of the match will be available to subscribers of Cardiff City Player HD*
SOCIAL: Live updates from the New York Stadium will come via our official Twitter account, @CardiffCityFC.
*Search ‘Cardiff City’ on the App Store and Google Play Store to view Cardiff City Player HD on smart phones.
