Been taking a look at the information on WhoScored and watched a tiny bit of footage to try and work out what sort of game we can expect.
Form
Rotherham have won their last three L1 games, and have 11 points from their last 6 games. That equals Coventry, and is 1 more than Oxford.
They have 23 points from 12 away games. Only Ipswich (23) have more.
They played Hull City in the FA Cup on Saturday, losing 3-2. They played over an hour with 10 men.
Style of play
They are the second highest scorers in L1 with 42 (Oxford 41). No side has scored more goals away from home.
They have the ninth best defensive record in L1, conceding 25 (Oxford 22).
They are formidable from set pieces, scoring 18. The next highest is Wycombe, on 11. They've also benefitted from more own goals than anyone else.
They cross more than any team in the division. They do not make many short passes (we do). We run with the ball more.
They favour shots in the box more than any other team in the division. They slightly favour attacks down the wings, relative to other teams, but not really significant.
We are similar in getting to play the bulk of a game away from our own defensive third. Neither concede many shots, both take plenty.
Highlights
I watched the YouTube short highlights from three recent games.
Blackpool (h) - won 2-1:
Scored from a corner and direct from a free kick. Conceded from a corner taken short. Gave up a good chance on the counter.
Peterborough (h) - won 4-0:
Scored
three from corners (one own goal and one from a second delivery on the opposite flank), one from a direct pass-and-run in open play. Both teams had a man sent off - Posh man was defending a counter attack.
Shrewsbury (a) - won 2 -1:
Scored two from corners, conceded when Shrewsbury played a long free kick out wide and crossed into the box. Gave up another near miss on the counter. Nearly scored from a throw in/low cross.
Summary
Wow do they score from corners. Six in three games. A fun fact is that OUFC themselves have only scored five goals from corners since 1955.
What's interesting is that many of them aren't 'direct' (ie a cross and a header). They are good at winning a second ball or creating chaos in the box following initial contact. I'm not much of a tactician but I'd suggest we try and do what we do best - keep the ball, play short passes that they can't match, limit their opportunities because the set pieces absolutely will cause us problems.
I would love to see Browne/Fosu left up when defending corners to exploit opportunities on the counter. Play long passes to them to avoid Rotherham winning the second ball near our goal.
I'd consider playing Moore.
