Rotherham United v Derby County: Millers and Rams to try again this evening

Tuesday night’s fixture was called off due to a waterlogged pitch, but the game has been rapidly rescheduled following discussions between officials at both clubs.

It will mean that the Millers will have a day less to prepare for Saturday’s game at Preston, while Derby will afforded a day’s less preparation for their match at Barnsley, also on Saturday.

Tuesday’s postponement represented the second time that Rotherham’s scheduled home game with the Rams has been called off, with the fixture not taking place on its original date of December 19 following a positive Covid-19 test in the Millers squad, with the decision made on the grounds of player safety.

This time around, the game succumbed to the elements with Rotherham hit by a rain deluge in late afternoon, making the surface unplayable, with pockets of standing water visible on the pitch when it was inspected by officials an hour before kick-off.

Earlier in the day, ground staff had removed snow which had settled on the covered surface to the perimeter of the pitch.

It was soon agreed the game would be re-staged at the earliest available date with United booked up in terms of midweek fixtures until April 17, taking to account the international break in March.

Millers chief Paul Warne admitted to being disappointed that Tuesday’s fixture was postponed, but accepted that it was the right decision in terms of player safety, with his counterpart Wayne Rooney also agreeing.

Speaking after the postponement, he said: “I am really disappointed the game is off. We’d prepped for it and were ready. Plus, a Saturday-Tuesday schedule is better for us than Saturday-Wednesday. Both teams would have liked to have played, but the referee has made the right decision.

“Player safety is paramount and there is no way the match could have gone ahead.

“I feel for all the people who spent all day clearing the pitch of snow, only for the rain to come down.

“The pitch was saturated. I think I have been to every Rotherham match at New York Stadium since it opened and it is the first time I have ever seen water on the surface. Going ahead with the game just would not have been safe. The pitch is one of the best in the division and our ground staff are amazing, but tonight (Tuesday), it was unplayable.

“The decision was probably easier to make because there were not 12,000 people inside the ground waiting to be entertained.”

Millers keeper Jamal Blackman will miss tonight’s match while he self-isolates.