Rotherham United aim to avoid another unwanted Championship statistic in a torrid season - after breaking desperate run

THERE'S being bottom of the table and then there's being rock-bottom.
Leon Wobschall
By Leon Wobschall
Published 20th Mar 2024, 06:00 GMT
Updated 20th Mar 2024, 09:59 GMT

Rotherham United's players have sampled both in a desperate 2023-24.

The nadir in a write-off of a season arrived in their recent 5-0 Championship defeat at Norwich - four days after an identikit loss at Coventry.

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There will be no happy ending for the Millers in a campaign when relegation will be confirmed soon, alongside the wooden spoon.

NUMBERS GAME: Rotherham United manager Leam Richardson is determined for his team to avoid setting a new record for lowest number of points in a season. gPicture: Jonathan GawthorpeNUMBERS GAME: Rotherham United manager Leam Richardson is determined for his team to avoid setting a new record for lowest number of points in a season. gPicture: Jonathan Gawthorpe
NUMBERS GAME: Rotherham United manager Leam Richardson is determined for his team to avoid setting a new record for lowest number of points in a season. gPicture: Jonathan Gawthorpe

At least for their sakes, a 0-0 weekend draw with Huddersfield Town stopped the rot of sorts and avoided a tenth successive league reverse.

That last happened in a similarly torrid 2016-17 when Rotherham propped up the second-tier table virtually from day one and were relegated by a country mile.

It was a season when they mustered a club-record low of 23 points in a season. Making sure they avoid setting a new unwanted statistic will be one aim between now and May 4.

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Millers head coach Leam Richardson said: "We’ve been in a moment since I have been here and need to come out of it knowing more about ourselves and representing ourselves a bit better and not come back to this point.

Rotherham United head coach Leam Richardson, on the touchline in Saturday's Championship game with Huddersfield Town. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe.Rotherham United head coach Leam Richardson, on the touchline in Saturday's Championship game with Huddersfield Town. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe.
Rotherham United head coach Leam Richardson, on the touchline in Saturday's Championship game with Huddersfield Town. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe.

"Being beaten 5-0 twice, you are looking around for help and it’s important you’ve got the leadership skills and right vocabulary to make them believe and put the emotion aside and put your next best step forward because it’s easy to dive for cover, not turn up for work and find excuses about certain things, which I won’t allow.

"You’ve got to have a togetherness, cohesion and support each other in the times you need it the most.

"The players needed my support and I’d like to think I gave them it and I am probably just disappointed they didn’t get a win."

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The Millers may have to make do without Christ Tiehi (pelvis) and Jordan Hugill (knee) in the final offerings of the season and they will know more shortly.

One positive on Saturday saw the bench return of Tyler Blackett, out since early October with a serious hamstring injury.

Richardson added: "It's been disappointing. It's good to have him back. He adds balance."

Related topics:Leam RichardsonMillersCoventryHuddersfield Town