Rotherham striker is Revell with a cause

Revell scored a fine solo goal which helped the Millers earn a 1-1 first-leg draw at Deepdale, which leaves the tie finely poised ahead of the return clash at New York Stadium on Thursday.

It has been a landmark campaign for Steve Evans’ side as they have built on last season’s promotion from League Two in style and accrued enough points to have become champions had they been in League One in the 2012-13 campaign.

They have flown under the radar for the majority the season and not many people outside the club have given them much chance of success.

Preston were big favourites ahead of the two-legged semi-final, though Simon Grayson’s men were indebted to a wonder strike from Joe Garner to earn them a draw as the Millers dominated.

And Revell, who has scored 11 goals this season, wants his team-mates to pull one more surprise out of the bag and earn a place at Wembley, where Leyton Orient are already waiting in the final.

“We know we are good enough to beat them,” he said. “We know they are a very good side and whoever gets through on Thursday is going to deserve it.

“Do we have a great deal to lose? This is our first season in League One, we have surprised everyone, I don’t think many people would have expected us to go to Preston and get a draw.

“We have surprised people yet again and the longer that goes on the better chance we have of getting to Wembley.

“What we have got is a group of lads who are together and want to achieve for this football club and we can go into the game really looking forward to it.”

The Millers have not had it all their own way on home soil, though, as their 10 wins was the lowest out of any of the top six and they have endured plenty of frustration.

There will be a sell-out at New York Stadium and Revell hopes to call on the Millers’ 12th man.

“At home it has been difficult sometimes because teams have come and tried to frustrate us and I imagine that is what they are going to do again,” he added.

“We have got to use the crowd to our advantage, they are our 12th man.

“They have helped us in times of need and Thursday is our biggest game yet.”

Rotherham have built their success this season on a direct back-to-front and dynamic counter-attacking style and Preston boss Simon Grayson knows what to expect.

North End, who have never gone up via the play-offs in eight previous attempts, scored only one goal in their away games at the top six clubs in the regular campaign, but Grayson will ensure his men go out to better that tally in South Yorkshire.

“You’ve got to make sure you withstand what the opposition throw at you but then go and play your own game,” he said.

“The emphasis isn’t on us as much to get out and get the goals but we want to make sure we go there and try to win the game.

“We’re not thinking we’ll just settle for extra time and penalties.

“We’ll go there and try to win it but we need to be better and try and nullify their threats.

“That’s how they’ve played all season. When you’ve got Revell and (Wes) Thomas, who are handfuls, then when you have that pace they can hit you and that’s why they’ve had a successful time.”

Evans could be hampered by several injuries with Kieran Agard (hamstring), Lee Frecklington (knee) and Ben Pringle (thigh) all doubts, while only Neil Kilkenny (calf) is a problem for Preston.