Port Vale v Rotherham United: Now or never for Lee Clark's Millers
IT'S very much a case of now or never for Rotherham United.
A win at rock-bottom Port Vale looks a non-negotiable if Lee Clark's side are to have any realistic chance of staving off the drop, with a South Yorkshire derby with Barnsley on the horizon on Saturday.
Clark's first point at the helm arrived in a goalless stalemate with play-off candidates Stevenage on Good Friday, with the Millers chief pleased with his players’ levels of commitment and performance.
But the precious currency of wins is what is plainly required for the Millers, who are without a victory in their past six League One outings.
Clark, who was handed the reigns last month for the final nine matches of the campaign following the axing of Matt Hamshaw, said: "It was always going to be that we were going to have to win a lot of the games remaining.
"That's still the same and we have still got the same focus that it can be achieved.
"The players gave us absolutely everything. We have got a basis to work on and that's the standard and we cannot drop below that to give ourselves a chance in the remaining seven games to give ourselves an opportunity and I believe the players won't."
Marvin Kelata has joined the Millers' absentee count and will be out for the remainder of the campaign alongside midfielder Joe Powell and goalkeeper Cameron Dawson.
Seventeen-year-old academy keeper Ben Childs was among the substitutes against Stevenage.
The Millers are assessing defender Lenny Agbaire and striker Sam Nombe ahead of the trip to the Potteries.
Nombe suffered a suspected broken nose versus Boro, but Clark expects him to be available.
He said: “He'll be okay. He's a warrior, he wants to be out there for every game if he can.”
Agbaire jarred his knee.
The Millers have won just once on the road in the league since late October, with that success arriving in a 4-0 triumph at Exeter City at the end of January.
They have picked up just three away wins on their travels so far in the third tier in 2025-26.
Vale are toiling at the bottom and cast well adrift, but have secured four points from their last two home outings, having beaten Bolton Wanderers last time out at Vale Park while also taking a point in a 0-0 draw with Huddersfield Town.