Huddersfield v Rotherham: Millers looking to drag Town into survival fight

Both clubs have had a change of manager this campaign. Neil Redfearn came into a club hamstrung by questionable recruitment in the summer, whereas David Wagner has been appointed to drag Huddersfield Town into a new era.

Rotherham were identified as relegation battlers before the first ball was kicked on the first day of the season. Town have suddenly found themselves among the pack, the result of ditching the relative stability of Chris Powell’s outlook for the higher risk and potentially higher gain approach of Wagner.

Performances have improved considerably under the German, unsurprising given his four years working with the manager du jour, Jurgen Klopp, at Borussia Dortmund. Results have not followed suit. The Terriers have lost three of their last four, the only win coming against a Birmingham side that have not won since November 7.

Redfearn admitted that he thinks Wagner has made a genuine difference since taking over at Town.

He said: “I looked at the stats from the Bristol City game, and I know they lost, but they had something like 67 per cent possession. He obviously wants them to play, he wants them to have the ball and pass it.

“He is encouraging bravery, because they have had a good result but been beaten a couple of times, yet they keep going in the same way. They want to play high tempo and press if they can.”

This is not to say the former Barnsley midfielder is fearful of what Wagner brings. He believes his own team’s performances are getting better. Redfearn is well aware that the Championship is a division where results are as predictable as the toss of a coin.

He said: “There is no easy game at this level. Everybody is capable of beating one another. This is another tough game.

“From our point of view, and I want to concentrate on us, we have had four good performances in the last four games. We have played well. We have had a couple of results and a couple of narrow defeats, but the performances have been good and they have been consistent. I want us to be at the same level.”

As far as Redfearn is concerned, his job tonight is to pull Town into a relegation battle. Three points at the John Smith’s Stadium would move the Millers level with Wagner’s side.

Redfearn said: “If you look at this league at this moment in time, there are three leagues within the league. We have to try and finish at the top of our league. We are in that bottom bit.

“If we can catch Huddersfield, then that gets Huddersfield into it. Bolton play Charlton (tonight). If they draw and we win, we go above them.”

Psychologically, moving level on points with Town would be a real boost for Redfearn’s team and keep them within touching distance of safety.

Rotherham have had some difficult fixtures since Redfearn joined the club, and he feels other strugglers will now go through a similar run, giving the Millers an opportunity to climb the table.

“It’s important that we are still in touch with everyone in and around us,” he said.

“You are going to get these games where sides in and around us play top sides. We just had a spell like that; it’s tough. Other sides will go through the same process.

“We have to start getting on the right side of some results now. On the back of four decent performances, we have to turn out again on Tuesday night.”

Redfearn’s own record against Huddersfield gives him reason to be positive.

In his time at Leeds last season, as both caretaker and permanent head coach, Redfearn masterminded two victories against the West Yorkshire side.

This is not to say Redfearn is over confident. He believes the right outlook is to take the battle game by game rather than predicting where Rotherham might end up a month down the line.

“The wrong thing to do is set yourself a target each month,” he said.

“What you have to do is try and get the points out of each game.

“From my experience last year, there will be some games we don’t expect to win that we will win, and there will be some games that we expect to win and we get beat. That’s how this division is.

“If you look at the Hull game against Bolton on Saturday, if Bolton had won nobody would have batted an eyelid because they played well enough.

“We just have to make sure that we are in the mix and close to these teams because I think that when it comes to it, and if it comes to a scrap, I fancy us.”

Last six games: Huddersfield Town DLLLWL, Rotherham United LLWWLL.

Referee: M Brown (East Yorkshire).

Last time: Huddersfield Town 0 Rotherham United 2; March 7, 2015; Championship.