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Rotherham? They'll... oh, who cares.


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"Welcome to Soccer Saturday!"

"The Football League season is coming to a dramatic end - in particular, the Championship."

"Newcastle - perhaps as expected - strolled to success in this division, although they're going to fall short of reaching the 100 point total that many thought possible at the start of the season. Wolves are all but up with them, but the playoff places are still undecided! Huddersfield currently hold the sixth spot, but they're just one point above Aston Villa and Derby, who must still believe that they can steal that spot away."

"It's not been a hugely successful season for Derby, with Steve McClaren sacked after just 261 days in charge and a 37% win ratio. They're a completely new team under Karl Robinson, however - the ex MK Dons man is unbeaten in his six games there so far, with 5 wins and just one draw. You have to believe that taking Derby to the playoffs would be a huge cap in his feather considering the position the club were in when he joined them."

"Aston Villa have been steady under Steve Bruce all season - many would have considered them as having too much work to do to make a serious shot at promotion this year, but they're still in with a chance. They face a strong Brighton outfit, however, and they know that failure to take all 3 points will guarantee missing out on the playoffs."

"The favourites of course are still Huddersfield, who have that crucial point lead over the other two. David Wagner is a top manager at this level, and you just know that he's going to have his side fired up for this one. However, Huddersfield should already be over the line! They threw away a three goal lead to draw 4-4 with Birmingham last week. How much will that have rattled the players?"

"Oh, and Nottingham Forest are there, too. They're not relevant, though. Haven't been for fifty years."

 

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"The fixture computer always throws up some interesting final day clashes, but I have to say that this is one of my favourites yet. While Derby and Huddersfield are competing for a playoff place, they're both playing teams in the midst of one of the tightest relegation battles in years!"

"Derby have to travel away to the AESSEAL New York Stadium to take on Rotherham. That hasn't been an overly happy hunting ground in recent years for Derby, but can they rise to the challenge for such a huge occasion?"

"Rotherham know that a win will secure safety, and a draw will go a long way for them. They could even survive with a loss, but that depends on other results."

"One of those other results is Cardiff's game - because they take on Huddersfield! We've got two promotion vs relegation battles right here, and I can't wait! Cardiff haven't won a game in TEN matches, so you'd have to think Huddersfield like their chances of holding onto that playoff spot."

"For me, Cardiff are the case in point as to why teams should be more reticent to fire managers. Neil Warnock picked up 13 wins and 8 draws in his 36 games at the club. Steve Clarke's come in, and he's got just one point in the ten games he's been in charge for! Vincent Tan may very well have doomed his club, and I can't say I feel particularly sorry for him, to be honest."

"Blackburn are in the relegation zone right now, but they take on a Brentford side who are much weaker than either Derby or Huddersfield. It's not going to be easy for Blackburn to avoid the drop, but it's definitely possible."

"I'm so excited! And the teamsheets are coming in..."

 

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"Well, Rotherham's rookie manager has certainly made some big decisions here!"

"Lee Frecklington has passed a late fitness test, so the Rotherham captain is straight on the teamsheet. No such luck in midfield for Tom Adeyemi - after missing the past three games with suspension, he doesn't even make the squad for this one."

"Joe Newell was the Rotherham player with the most appearances besides the keeper, so his suspension through a red card was always going to hugely affect them. His replacement? Richie Towell - the on loan man from Brighton has made just three starts this season up until now. This is a huge call."

"Upfront, Danny Ward - who has scored 17 goals in 42 starts this season - can still only make the bench. Conor Washington gets the nod - despite having a far worse scoring ratio, with just 5 goals in 22 appearances, albeit, 8 from the bench."

 

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"Matej Vydra only makes the bench - that's not a huge surprise, but here's a factoid for you - Derby paid over 4x more for Vydra than Rotherham have spent on their entire squad."

"Richard Keogh and Jason Shackell make a formidable pairing at the back. Cyrus Christie and Ikechi Anya are the best FB pairing in the division, bar none. Those two will not stop attacking for 90 minutes."

"George Thorne is often laid low with injuries, but his presence in midfield is huge for Derby. Expect him to hold while Will Hughes bombs forward, supporting Derby's attack."

"The biggest surprise on Derby's teamsheet is the inclusion of Emilio Nsue - it's just his 6th start this season, and he's more comfortable as a defender than a winger. Now, Johnny Russell failed a late fitness test, which is why he's not in the squad, but has Karl Robinson over-thought himself by starting Nsue?"

 

 

 

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"IT'S A GOAL FOR HUDDERSFIELD!"

"Elias Kachunga has put Huddersfield into the lead against Cardiff! As things stand, Huddersfield will take that last promotion spot, and Cardiff will survive by the skin of their teeth if Blackburn can only draw!"

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"Derby's fate is currently out of their hands. 20 minutes into the game at the New York Stadium and it's fairly even - Derby have been on top, but Kirk Broadfoot came close to putting Rotherham in the lead from a corner. Derby just need to focus on getting into the lead, and then hoping that Huddersfield slip up."

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"AND DERBY HAVE GONE RIGHT UP THE OTHER END AND SCORED!"

"IZZY BROWN MIGHT HAVE STILL BEEN THINKING ABOUT THAT MISS, BECAUSE HE'S COMPLETELY SWITCHED OFF! WILL HUGHES HAS RAN FREE FROM A THROW IN, AND THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL STRIKE INTO THE BOTTOM CORNER FROM 20 YARDS. LEE CAMP HAD NO CHANCE!"

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"JAMES WILSON HAS DOUBLED DERBY'S LEAD!"

"Cyrus Christie has been allowed far too much room on the right wing. He's played in a low cross, and James Wilson's just stolen in at the front post. Poor, poor goal to concede for Rotherham, and they're going to have to hope that Cardiff don't get back in it. They look beaten here."

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"Derby could have had a third!"

"Jacob Butterfield's just found a pocket of space on the edge of the area, and it's only a good save from Lee Camp that's kept this at 2-0. If Rotherham aren't careful, they might end up going down on goal difference!"

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"There's just 30 minutes left to go now."

"Blackburn are still holding on to a narrow 1 goal lead against Brentford. That's so, so important for them - if Brentford can equalise, Blackburn will fall back into the relegation zone, even with Rotherham and Cardiff both losing 2-0 currently."

 

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"Substitution for Rotherham. Danny Ward is on - but he's not upfront. He's going to replace Izzy Brown - as much as Brown has been a spark for Rotherham this season, the Chelsea loanee has had a nightmare of a day. He won't be happy with himself."

"30 minutes left."

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10 hours ago, Jupjamie said:

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"Oh, and Nottingham Forest are there, too. They're not relevant, though. Haven't been for fifty years."

 

Apart from the fact that Rotherham are a team of Forest rejects ;-) (Camp, Wilson, Halford,  Blackstock, Derbyshire, Burke)

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1 hour ago, Carninho said:

Apart from the fact that Rotherham are a team of Forest rejects ;-) (Camp, Wilson, Halford,  Blackstock, Derbyshire, Burke)

Derbyshire and Burke?  Bit behind the times.

Anyway, it's well known we're a bunch of Sheffield Wednesday rejects.

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