Match Pack: Watford v Rotherham United

• Watford v Rotherham United
• Sky Bet Championship
• Vicarage Road Stadium
• Saturday November 11, 3pm KO
• Yellow and black home kit

• Referee: Stephen Martin
• Assistant Referees: Mark Dwyer and Robert Hyde
• Fourth Official: Andy Davies

Supporters are politely advised to take their seats by 2.45pm for our annual Remembrance Matchday.

Various activities are planned as we mark Armistice Day, including a Remembrance parade, performances of Abide With Me and The Last Post, wreath laying and a minute’s silence.

The players’ shirts will feature the poppy and will be signed after the match, with a live digital auction being held in aid of the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal. Click HERE for details.

South-Yorkshire outfit Rotherham travel down to Vicarage Road looking to build on back-to-back draws against Queens Park Rangers and high-flying Ipswich Town, with what would be a first away win of the season.

Matt Taylor’s Millers - who finished 19th in the second-tier last term - have tasted victory twice so far in the 2023/24 campaign, at home to Norwich and Coventry, and currently sit four points shy of safety in 22nd.

• Watford are unbeaten in their last 10 Football League games against Rotherham United (W6 D4) – it’s their longest ongoing unbeaten run against a side currently in the top four tiers.

• Both meetings last season in the second-tier ended 1-1. There have never been three successive draws in this fixture in the Football League before. Rotherham scored the opening goal in both matches, after conceding first in five of the six prior league encounters.

• This will be the first season since 2004/05 that the Millers are facing the Hornets not as a newly-promoted side.

For a full statistical breakdown, check out Stats Buzz: Rotherham United In Numbers.

Head Coach Valérien Ismaël confirmed in his pre-match press conference that a small number of Watford players face late fitness tests ahead of Saturday’s match, though he has a full squad to pick from otherwise.

For the visitors, midfielder Jamie Lindsay could feature after recovering from a long-term achilles injury to make the bench against Ipswich in midweek, but Grant Hall (hip) is expected to miss out.

Valérien Ismaël, Watford Head Coach:

“It’s going to be another tough game. All the games are difficult though, which is why I’m not worried when we’re heading into a match in the Championship. I know the rules and how hard it is, but I trust my players, I have a good feeling with them, and I know that we’re all really focused. We trained well during the week, the environment is good, and we are ready.

“Last week (v Huddersfield Town, November 4) I think we came up against another way to play, so we’ve worked on solutions during the week and I think we’re now more ready to face all situations. At some point the players need to step up, take more risks and force the opponent to defend more, and that’s what we’re looking to do.”

Click HERE to see Ismaël’s full pre-match press conference.

Matt Taylor, Rotherham United Manager:

“Watford have a strong squad and they’re an incredibly tough team to prepare for, as is every team at Championship level. They’ve got players across the board who can hurt you individually, and who move the ball well.

“We’re actually looking to compete away from home though, like we did at Southampton. We’ve shown good character and skills to respond to going behind against QPR and get the late equaliser against Ipswich in our last two games.

“Getting a first away win of the season would be huge, because every time we go away from home the same questions come. The earlier that happens, the better for everyone.”

Overall:

Won: 14
Drawn: 9
Lost: 6

Last Six:

January 2023: Watford 1-1 Rotherham United (Championship)
September 2022: Rotherham United 1-1 Watford (Championship)
March 2021: Rotherham United 1-4 Watford (Championship)
December 2020: Watford 2-0 Rotherham United (Championship)
February 2015: Watford 3-0 Rotherham United (Championship)
August 2014: Rotherham United 0-2 Watford (Championship)

Goals from Francisco Sierralta, Ismaïla Sarr, Ken Sema and Dan Gosling secured a memorable 4-1 victory over the Millers back in March 2021, as the Golden Boys stepped closer towards promotion to the Premier League.