Rotherham vs Brentford preview
Friday 18 January 2019 11:27, UK
Rotherham will add midfielders Richie Towell and Matt Crooks to their squad for the visit of Brentford.
Towell, who boss Paul Warne hopes to sign permanently in the next two days, returns from a three-match suspension while Crooks is hoping for his debut after joining from Northampton last week.
Defender Sean Raggett (face) is a doubt, as is forward Kyle Vassell (groin). An unnamed player is also out injured, but Warne did not want to give his identity away. Midfielder Joe Newell (groin) remains sidelined, while striker Jamie Proctor's season is over after a hip operation.
Brentford defender Chris Mepham is expected to be available for selection despite interest from Premier League club Bournemouth. Bees boss Thomas Frank reported no fresh injury problems following last weekend's win over Stoke. Sergi Canos is pressing for a recall, having started on the bench as forward Ollie Watkins came back into the side.
Finland Under-21 international Marcus Forss returned to action following his back problem in midweek for the Brentford B team and scored, while goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe also featured. Midfielders Emiliano Marcondes (ankle) and Lewis Macleod (hamstring) also continue their rehabilitation.
Opta stats
Rotherham have won their last two home league matches against Brentford, last winning three consecutively during a run of five in April 1984.
Brentford have won their last two Championship games against Rotherham, a 4-2 win in February 2017 and 5-1 victory on the opening day of this season.
In their last Championship match, Rotherham had 15 more shots (18 to 3) than opponents Ipswich Town but lost 0-1, conceding with the only shot on target they faced.
No player has scored in more Championship matches than Brentford striker Neal Maupay this season (12) - he has ended on the winning side in just four of those games (W4 D5 L3), winning none of the six away games he's scored in (W0 D4 L2).
Only Ipswich Town (3) have won fewer Championship matches this season than Rotherham (5) - 15 of their last 16 wins at Championship level have been by a single goal margin.
Brentford picked up just four points in their first 10 Championship games under Thomas Frank (W1 D1 L8) but have since won nine points in their last five games under him (W2 D3 L0).
Prutton's prediction
David Prutton predicts: 1-2 (8/1 with Sky Bet)
