York City v Rotherham United: Cup victory would be perfect hangover cure

GARY MILLS believes knocking Rotherham United out of the FA Cup tonight would help banish the play-off hangover that has been hampering York City this season.

The Minstermen have endured a difficult time this campaign with Sunday's draw at home to Wrexham leaving the club sitting just one point above the relegation zone in the BlueSquare Premier.

After having reached the play-off final last May only to lose 3-1 to Oxford United, such a lowly position after 18 games represents a disappointing turn of events for the former Football League club.

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Mills, who replaced Martin Foyle as manager last month, believes the fall-out from that defeat at Wembley is behind the recent indifferent form but insists victory over the Millers tonight could go a long way towards kick-starting York's season.

He said: "I have not been here too long but, if I am being perfectly honest, I think there has been a bit of a hangover from what happened last year.

"By that, I mean there has been more of a mental hangover than physical. Sometimes, it can happen to a club who have gone so close to winning promotion.

"What I have been saying to the players is that last season has gone. They have to look forward.

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"It is all about getting their heads right and there would be no better way to do that than by beating Rotherham United."

York performed admirably in the first meeting between the two clubs a week last Saturday at the Don Valley Stadium, where the game finished goalless.

Since then, City have played just once – Sunday's 1-1 draw against Wrexham – while the Millers lost heavily to Huddersfield Town in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy before bouncing back with a 2-1 win over Oxford United last weekend.

It was a win that lifted Ronnie Moore's men to within a point of the automatic promotion places in League Two but Mills, a former European Cup winner with Nottingham Forest as a player, believes his side are capable of pulling off an upset and earning a second round trip to Darlington.

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He said: "The tie could be a cracker. Rotherham have had a couple of iffy results lately, including against ourselves when they probably expected to win.

"But they got a good result at the weekend, which will have boosted confidence. As for ourselves, I was hugely encouraged by our display on Sunday and I thought we could have won it.

"It was a similar story against Rotherham in the first game. If anything, we were disappointed not to have gone through as I felt we deserved to win. Unfortunately, we didn't take our chances. What we must do in the replay is produce the sort of performance we did at Rotherham.

"We have certainly not done the hard bit by getting them back here for a replay. Anyone thinking that would be stupid. What we have to do is perform again.

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"The pleasing thing for me is I know these players are capable of performing to a high standard. We are creating the chances and dominating quite a few teams.

"What has been missing recently is what every team craves – the ability to score goals."

Loanees Ashley Chambers and Robbie Weir, who both made their York debuts against Wrexham, will not be available due to having signed for the club since the first tie against Rotherham took place.

But Jonathan Smith and Peter Till should be back after sitting out the draw with the Welsh side through injury, while captain Chris Smith also returns after suspension.

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Rotherham are set to be without captain Ryan Cresswell, who has been troubled with a back injury, though Johnny Mullins could make a shock return just eight days after limping out of the JP Trophy defeat to Huddersfield Town with a calf injury.

Last six games: York City LDWLDD; Rotherham United LLDDLW.

Referee: D Coote (Nottinghamshire).

Last time: York City 1 Rotherham United 2; February 12, 2000; Division Three.