Upcoming FA Cup opposition - Rotherham United

Shade · 28 Oct 2024, 13:00

I shan't go into too much detail about our next opponents, with them not being League opponents.

We travel 140 miles, just under 3 hours, up to Rotherham on Saturday in Round 1 of this season's FA Cup. Currently once again managed by a f#!$ #$£!, the Millers were relegated from the Championship last season and sit 14th in League One, with 4 wins, 5 draws and 5 defeats. Their most recent result was a 2-0 home win against Stevenage on Saturday, where Lewis Freestone started for the visitors and was booked. I think it's fair to say Rotherham are underperforming, looking at some of the names in their squad.

Noteworthy players:
Dillon Phillips - our ex-loanee is now 29 and fighting for the number 1 spot, with 7 appearances this season. Might start against us.
Sean Raggett - ex-Dover centre back when we won the National League, was linked to us before eventually going to Lincoln. Norwich then bought him, loaned him back to Lincoln, then to Rotherham and Portsmouth, before releasing him, when he joined Portsmouth again, before releasing him, when he joined Rotherham again.

Recent results:
RUFC 1-0 CTFC, L1, 22 Jan '22
CTFC 0-2 RUFC, L1, 02 Oct '21

Overall: 4 wins, 7 defeats, 3 draw. 18 goals for, 23 against.

Interesting things:
- This will be the first ever FA Cup tie between the side.
- The first match between the sides was in League Division 3 on 2nd October 1999, which Rotherham won 2-0 at Whaddon Road. They won the reverse fixture by the same scoreline.
- It was a full 6 years before the next meeting, which we won 2-0 at Whaddon Road. We also won the return, 2-4, to secure our League One safety for the first time, in April 2007.
- This will be just our third fixture against Rotherham since March 2013.
- One of the more crazy games in our EFL history was at Rotherham on 21st August 2010, when we lost 6-4. Obviously, this was towards the end of a period known for some crazy scorelines. We had actually led 1-3 through Jeff Goulding, Wes Thomas and Shaun Jeffers in the 36th minute, but were 6-3 down after 66. The scourge of many a team, but especially us, Adam Le Fondre scored a hat trick. Wes Thomas missed a penalty for us before Keith "Lowey" Lowe got our 4th at the end.
- Players to have played for both sides include Kayode Odejayi and Kyle Vassell. List the others below!

Warwickshire Robin · 28 Oct 2024, 13:45

Just a note to anyone heading up to Rotherham on Saturday, plan your route carefully. The M42 will be shut this weekend between Junctions 6 & 7 due to HS2 works.

Si Robin · 28 Oct 2024, 14:06

The 4-2 at Millmoor is one of my favourite away days ever as a Cheltenham fan.

Safety confirmed and then getting on the coach to learn that Leeds had been relegated to League 1.

Shade · 28 Oct 2024, 16:13

Si Robin wrote: ↑28 Oct 2024, 14:06 The 4-2 at Millmoor is one of my favourite away days ever as a Cheltenham fan.

Safety confirmed and then getting on the coach to learn that Leeds had been relegated to League 1.

Setting up what I assume was another one of your favourite away days?

Si Robin · 28 Oct 2024, 16:39

Nope - I couldn't go to Elland Road.

Jerry St Clair · 28 Oct 2024, 21:00

Adam Herczeg takes charge of this one on, near enough, the first anniversary of his Robins debut - the 3-2 thriller at Blackpool in the game which really sparked the Darrell Clarke-inspired resurgence. (Spookily, last weekend he was in Salop to oversee DC's victory there with Barnsley).

No other Town appointments on record. Herczeg was elevated pretty much straight from the National League to League One with only a smattering of League Two appointments in between indicating that he is highly thought of.