Opposition Lowdown: Steve Evans’ Rotherham United

Reading’s final league game before the international break sees them travel north to play Rotherham United. Join us as we take a look at the opposition.

Form

Rotherham United were relegated from the Championship last season, finishing bottom of the league, 18 points behind Huddersfield Town who finished one place above them. Rotherham regularly yo-yo between the Championship and League One, but last season did mark their second straight campaign in the second tier.

They have found their return to League One tough so far, currently sitting in 17th place in the league, five places and three points behind Reading. They have picked up two wins so far this season and have drawn four and lost three games.

The Millers come into this weekend’s game off the back of a midweek away win, beating Cambridge United 0-1 after a 92nd-minute Sam Nombe winner.

The two sides last faced each other in the 2022/23 season when Rotherham beat the Royals 4-0 at home towards the start of the season, before Reading returned the favour in February 2023, with a 2-1 win at the SCL Stadium after goals from Andy Carroll and Tyrese Fornah.

The boss

Steve Evans: Evans was appointed Rotherham manager in April this year, leaving Stevenage after just over two years in charge.

The Scotsman’s playing career was cut short at the age of 24 after a serious knee injury. He had a spell out of the game before his first managerial job at non-league Stamford, but it was Boston United where he first made a name for himself over two separate spells.

Evans went on to manage Crawley Town and Rotherham United before a short spell at Leeds United. He has since gone on to manage Mansfield Town, Peterborough United and Gillingham, before taking up the reins at Stevenage in 2022.

He guided them to promotion in his first full season, after finishing runners-up in League Two, but left the side before the end of last season, joining Rotherham in April, with the club already relegated from the Championship.

Despite being a controversial figure in football, Evans does have a strong promotion record, with nine under his belt so far. He is known to have his teams play direct and intense football.

Squad

It was a busy summer at the New York Stadium with Rotherham signing 14 new players, as Evans looked to overhaul his squad. Key signings included striker Jonson Clarke-Harris, goalkeeper Cameron Dawson, defenders Joe Rafferty and Sean Raggett and midfielders Joe Powell and Liam Kelly. Former Reading defender Zak Jules also joined the club.

They also secured the loan signings of wingers Joseph Hungbo (FC Nuremberg) and Mallik Wilks (Sheffield Wednesday) and forward Detlef Esapa Osong (Nottingham Forest).

The Millers secured transfer fees for the outgoing goalkeeper Viktor Johansson, who joined Stoke City; right-back Peter Kioso, who signed for Oxford United; and midfielder Ollie Rathbone, who signed for Wrexham. Seven players left on free transfers, including defender Grant Hall, midfielder Cafu and forward Tom Eaves.

Defender Sean Raggett and midfielders Liam Kelly and Hakeem Odoffin will all face late fitness tests to determine whether they will be fit enough to play a part in this weekend’s game.

Predicted lineup

Dawson, Rafferty, Humphreys, McCart, James, McWilliams, Powell, Hungbo, Bramall, Wilks, Clarke-Harris

Key player

Jonson Clarke-Harris: Striker Clarke-Harris returned to Rotherham this summer, signing on a free transfer, following the end of his contract at Peterborough United. He started his career at Coventry City but only made one appearance for the club before signing for Peterborough in 2012.

After a series of loan spells away from The Posh, Clarke-Harris went on to make permanent moves to Oldham and Rotherham, where he scored 10 goals over the course of four seasons. Permanent moves to Coventry City and Bristol Rovers followed, before he returned to Peterborough in 2020.

He stayed at The Posh for four seasons, adding another 87 goals to his career tally, while also claiming the League One Golden Boot in the 2020/21 season. He was named Peterborough captain for the 2022/23 season and claimed another Golden Boot award.

Clarke-Harris started his second spell at Rotherham this summer and he has three goals to his name so far this season. The 30-year-old is a physical striker who is a good finisher and is strong in the air.

One to watch

Joe Powell: Midfielder Powell also joined Rotherham this summer, signing from League One Burton Albion on a free transfer. He started his career in the youth setup at West Ham United, having joined the club at the age of eight.

Powell signed his first pro deal with the Hammers in 2015 and made his debut in 2018 in an EFL Cup tie with Macclesfield Town, which they won 8-0. He had a loan spell with Northampton Town in 2019 before joining Burton on a permanent deal the following year.

Powell went on to make 186 appearances for the club, scoring 26 goals. The 25-year-old has made 12 appearances for Rotherham so far this season, logging three assists.

Powell is a centre midfielder, who typically plays in the number 10 role. He has an eye for goal and is a strong set-piece taker.