Preview: Bolton v RotherhamBolton Wanderers v Rotherham United
Sky Bet Championship
Tuesday 16 September 2014
Kick-Off 8pm
SETTING THE SCENE Wanderers face Rotherham on Tuesday night in what will be the Millers’ first visit to Macron Stadium, and the first competitive meeting between the two sides for 21 years.
Having sat at opposite ends of the football ladder for the majority of that time, the clubs are set to be reacquainted after Rotherham secured back-to-back promotions via the play-offs last season.
The Whites won their last meeting against the Yorkshire outfit back in 1993, but it is their only victory in this fixture since 1985. With Dougie Freedman’s side searching for their maiden league win of the campaign, they will be keen to ensure that that record is about to change.
ALL-TIME RECORD | Wanderers wins | Draws | Rotherham wins |
League | 6 | 11 | 13 |
FA Cup | 0 | 0 | 0 |
League Cup | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Total | 6 | 13 | 15 |
TEAM NEWSAndrew Lonergan is expected to continue in goal after Adam Bogdan was ruled out for eight weeks with a fractured finger, while Kevin McNaughton could return, having missed Saturday’s draw with Sheffield Wednesday through illness.
Liam Trotter and David Wheater will definitely miss out after coming off injured against Crewe Alexandra and Leeds United respectively.
Elsewhere, Marc Tierney and Sanmi Odelusi are the only other absentees for the Whites.
LAST TIME OUT13/09/2014: Bournemouth 1-1 Rotherham United
Substitute Jordan Bowery came off the bench to score an injury-time equaliser as Rotherham secured a 1-1 draw away at Bournemouth.
Fielding a new-look partnership in attack of debutants Luciano Becchio and Jonson Clarke-Harris, the visitors often found themselves on the back-foot and could have already been behind after Callum Wilson hit the post, before Steve Cook headed Bournemouth in front.
But in the third minute of stoppage time, Bowery leapt highest to nod home a Paul Taylor corner and earn his side a share of the points.
Rotherham: Collin, Skarz, Arnason, Green, Richardson, Pringle (Derbyshire 65), Morgan, Becchio (Revell 50), Taylor, Clarke-Harris (Bowery 55), Smallwood
ONE TO WATCHLuciano Becchio
Starting his career in his native Argentina with Boca Juniors, Becchio left the club for Europe in 2003, going on to spend brief spells with Mallorca B, Ciudad de Murcia, Terrassa and Barcelona B.
Joining Merida in 2006, the forward topped the Segunda B scoring charts with 22 goals during the 2007/08 campaign, with his form earning him a move to Leeds United at the end of the season.
A regular goalscorer during his time at Elland Road, the Argentine scored 19 goals in his first season in English football before helping the Whites win promotion to the Championship the following year.
Immediately adapting to the English second tier, Becchio twice broke the 20-goal mark before leaving for Premier League Norwich City in January 2013.
However, after a frustrating time at Carrow Road, Becchio was allowed to join Rotherham United on a season-long loan on transfer deadline day.
LAST TIME THEY WERE HERETuesday night’s match marks Rotherham’s first ever visit to Macron Stadium, and their first meeting with Wanderers in 21 years.
The last time they made the away trip to Bolton was in March 1993, where they fell to a 2-0 defeat as an Andy Walker brace secured victory for Bruce Rioch’s side.
MAN IN THE MIDDLELancashire-based referee Neil Swarbrick takes charge of Wanderers’ home clash with Rotherham United on Tuesday.
An established Premier League official, the midweek encounter marks Mr Swarbrick’s first ever visit to Macron Stadium. However, he has twice before officiated Whites matches, most recently reffing Bolton’s 0-0 draw away at Blackpool in October last year.
Andrew Garratt and Marc Perry will run the line, while Mick Russell is the fourth official.
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