ROTHERHAM v YORK – Pick: 1 – 26 February 2013

'Win-or-bust' Rotherham out for three points tonight

League One/Two Tips

Football –England – League Two

Tuesday 26th February 2013 – Kickoff:  1945hrs

Fifth placed Rotherham United go in search of a fourth successive League Two win when they host York City at their New York Stadium on Tuesday night in a South v North Yorkshire encounter.

Following a run of three straight defeats during January, Steve Evans’ side have picked themselves up since then and have suffered just one further defeat in their last five matches with four wins consisting of victories over play-off rivals Northampton Town 3-1, Torquay United 3-1 away, a 1-0 home win over Chesterfield and last week’s 2-1 win at tricky Bristol Rovers in midweek.

Their defeat during this recent run was at Burton Albion 0-2 who actually have the best home record in the division so it’s no disgrace to have lost at the Pirelli Stadium. They now have the chance though tonight to not only cement their play-off position with a win but they could actually move into third place depending on other results.

With no fewer than seven different clubs vying for the third and final automatic promotion spot (with Gillingham and Port Vale seemingly having one foot already in League One), competition is now fierce and Rotherham for one will be hoping their home form can carry them over the line.

Rotherham’s home record stands at a no-nonsense  10-0-7  33/24 which has a touch of a ‘win-or-bust’ feel about it, but another win tonight would put them right up there.

Visitors York City have been steady if a little unspectacular so far this season but have certainly held their own following their promotion up from the Blue Square Premier at the end of last season. A season of consolidation was called for and manager Gary Mills has so far delivered on that request with his side becoming somewhat ‘draw specialists’ having drawn 15 of their 34 matches so far (almost half).

York’s failure to actually win matches recently though (nine matches without a win) may land them in an unnecessary relegation fight if they’re not careful as they are just six points ahead of Accrington Stanley, and five points from the last 27 on offer may well end up not being enough in the long run with twelve matches left to play.

York’s away record stands at a stolid  4-9-4  18/23 but as mentioned, they need to start picking up more away points to keep the other teams around them at bay. They’ve earned good points at Fleetwood Town, Cheltenham Town and Gillingham recently but how will they cope with the more swashbuckling Rotherham on Tuesday night? I’ll back the hosts to win tonight given their incentive seems to be of more importance right now, Rotherham to edge this perhaps 1-0 in a dour encounter.

Pick:  Rotherham United straight win @ 1.70 bet365