Rotherham United vs West Bromwich Albion - prediction, team news, lineups

Meeting for the archetypal clip successful implicit 2 years, Rotherham United and West Bromwich Albion fastener horns astatine the AESSEAL New York Stadium successful the archetypal circular of the EFL Cup connected Saturday evening.

The Millers are preparing for their archetypal League Two run successful implicit a decade, whilst the Baggies are looking to amended connected 1 of the worst-ever league placements successful the club's arrogant history.

Match preview

For the archetypal clip since the promotion-winning 2012-13 campaign, Rotherham United are backmost successful the 4th tier of English shot aft a 23rd-placed decorativeness successful League One past clip out, ending up 11 points adrift of safety.

The Millers won conscionable 1 of their last 13 third-tier matches of a wretched 2025-26 term, with their astir caller triumph astatine the AESSEAL New York Stadium coming against Plymouth Argyle connected February 28.

Looking to mastermind an contiguous bounce backmost from the 4th tier, Alex Bruce is present successful the managerial hotseat successful Yorkshire, wherever the 41-year-old needs to instill a winning mentality aft 3 years of decline.

A prima antheral during a damaging play for Rotherham, past season's apical goalscorer Sam Nombe has departed for MK Dons, leaving a large spread astatine the apical extremity of the transportation which simply had to beryllium filled.

As a result, the Millers reacted decisively this summertime to bring EFL seasoned Paul Mullin to the nine from Wrexham, with the 31-year-old looking to enactment past term's disappointing indebtedness spells astatine Wigan Athletic and Bradford City down him.

Whilst the imperishable caput manager presumption of erstwhile subordinate James Morrison provides a consciousness of familiarity astatine The Hawthorns this season, West Bromwich Albion are undoubtedly astatine the opening of a caller era.

After 4 consecutive top-half finishes successful the 2nd tier betwixt 2022 and 2025, the Baggies mislaid the close to beryllium called a apical Championship contender past season, erstwhile they finished successful 21st spot, conscionable 4 points supra the relegation zone.

Jed Wallace, Josh Maja and Karlan Grant are conscionable immoderate of the notable names who person departed the Black Country nine this summer, with Morrison's men reducing the mean property of their squad.

The astir awesome of the caller recruits during the summertime truthful far, Jimmy-Jay Morgan has netted 5 goals successful 5 pre-season matches and looks acceptable to rival Isaac Price for a spot successful the first-choice XI.

The Baggies won 4 of their six affable clashes up of this weekend's EFL Cup travel to Rotherham, beating Sheffield Wednesday (3-0), Bromley (4-1), Shrewsbury Town (4-1) and Peterborough United (2-0), whilst besides drafting with Coventry City.

Rotherham United affable form:

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West Bromwich Albion affable form:

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Team News

Only playing 45 minutes successful pre-season truthful far, Rotherham's caller signing Mullin is improbable to commencement successful Yorkshire connected Saturday evening, however, the striker could gain immoderate enactment disconnected the bench.

Providing further acquisition and EFL knowhow astatine the apical extremity of the pitch, Tom Bradshaw could articulation Mullin successful a two-man guardant enactment erstwhile the brace person regained afloat lucifer fittingness this month.

Back from a breached limb suffered successful the spring, Mikey Johnston provides West Brom with a much-needed wide option, meaning that Harvey Whitwell could driblet retired of the XI this weekend.

Aune Heggebo has scored consistently during pre-season and should beryllium partnered by Morgan successful a two-man onslaught force, with Alex Mowatt and perchance Ousmane Diakite starting successful midfield.

Chris Mepham is looking similar the third-choice enactment astatine centre-back down Nat Phillips and George Campbell, with the American truly stepping up erstwhile required successful past season's relegation battle.

Rotherham United imaginable starting lineup:

Cann; Rafferty, Cover, Adegboyega, Agbaire; Jellis, Kelly, Spence, Yearwood; Bradshaw,  Kayode

West Bromwich Albion imaginable starting lineup:

O'Leary; Galves, Phillips, Campbell, Styles; Mowatt, Diakite, Price, Johnston; Morgan, Heggebo

We say: Rotherham United 1-2 West Bromwich Albion

Rotherham are a small undercooked up of this season-opener arsenic they await the wealth from the merchantability of Nombe to MK Dons.

West Brom person impressed against League One and League Two teams successful pre-season and should prime up a triumph this weekend.

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