Manchester City VS Rotherham United Match Prediction
2019-01-06
14:00:00
Manchester City
VS
Rotherham United
Our Prediction Tip
Manchester City will win this match.
2019-01-0614:00:00 Manchester City will win this match.
Manchester City are unbeaten in 11 previous matches against Rotherham United, winning seven and drawing four of those. That tally includes their EDS team drawing 1-1 with the Millers in last season’s Checkatrade Trophy, courtesy of Benjamin Garre’s last-minute equaliser. In the subsequent penalty shoot-out, Aro Muric – who is set to start in Sunday’s game – was City’s hero in a 4-2 shoot-out win. That is the only meeting between the sides since City were last in the second tier, when they won at home and drew away on their way to promotion in 2001/02.
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Given Rotherham have not won an FA Cup tie since 2013, the odds would have been against them in the majority of fixtures in the third round.
That they are playing away against the defending Premier League champions, who remain in the hunt for four trophies at the end of the season, only stacks the odds against them even more.
City are likely to make changes for both this game and the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg with Burton Albion that follows it, but the Blues have such strength in depth that there will still be plenty of international quality on show.
Kyle Walker, Gabriel Jesus, Nicolas Otamendi and Kevin de Bruyne could all return to the starting XI, as could summer signing Riyad Mahrez and rising stars Phil Foden and Brahim Diaz.
Jesus needs goals to keep his confidence flowing after a difficult season, while De Bruyne will want to get back to match sharpness after an injury-hit season so far.
Foden, meanwhile, has been excellent in the games he has started this season – running the show in the Community Shield back in August and scoring his first City goal in the Carabao Cup the following month.
Rotherham, despite being hit by injuries and only naming six subs on New Year’s Day, ended a nine-game winless streak with victory at home to Preston North End.
But struggling Preston are a very different kettle of fish to Manchester City and, as long as City make an early breakthrough on Sunday, this should be a comfortable home win.
Memories of last season’s shock defeat to Wigan Athletic will still be in some City minds but, on home soil especially, you would not expect a defeat.
Manchester City are a best price of 1/12 to win at home to Rotherham United with Bet365, which sums up the gulf between the two teams.
Even if they rotate players, there are goals throughout this team – Gabriel Jesus will be keen to score a few on his return to the starting XI and is a best price of 8/15 with 888sport to score at any time.
Other players that could feature include Brahim Diaz (59/50 with 888sport) and Riyad Mahrez (13/10 with 888sport).
If City do fire early, this could be a big score too and over 3.5 goals will return 4/7 with Ladbrokes, Betway and 10Bet.
Manchester City should beat Rotherham United comfortably, even if they opt to rotate players. Their strength in depth should mean more than enough quality to beat the struggling Millers.
Kevin de Bruyne could return for the FA Cup tie with Rotherham United, having been fit enough to make the bench for the game against Liverpool. He will be one of several first-team stars restored, with Kyle Walker, Nicolas Otamendi, Riyad Mahrez and Gabriel Jesus among the other options. Phil Foden will start in central midfield, as he has done in the Carabao Cup this season, while Brahim Diaz might return on the wing. In goal, Aro Muric has played the domestic cup games so far and – after his Carabao Cup quarter-final penalty shoot-out heroics – is set to replace Ederson. Fabian Delph is suspended, however.
Phil Foden – City’s home-grown teenager has signed a new long-term contract with his boyhood club and he has a couple of opportunities between this and the Carabao Cup semi-final to excel this week.
Gabriel Jesus – Likely to start up front as he looks to recapture his best form in front of goal – even out of form and favour, he has netted six times this season.
Kevin de Bruyne – Scored twice on his return from a long-term knee injury and will now want to kick-off the second-half of his season with a big performance.
After losing both games either side of Christmas, despite leading them both, City have got back on track with two wins from two. That includes the huge 2-1 win at home to leaders Liverpool last time out, in which Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane scored their goals. It followed a 3-1 defeat of Southampton at St Mary’s, when David Silva and Aguero were on target, either side of a Saints’ own goal, and puts the 3-2 loss to Crystal Palace and 2-1 defeat at Leicester firmly behind them.
Midfielder Ryan Manning has been recalled from his loan by QPR, while the Millers were without the quartet of Zak Vyner, Clark Robertson, Kyle Vassell and Darren Potter for the New Year’s Day win against Preston. Having ended their winless streak with victory in that game, those four face a fight to get back into the starting XI. Anthony Forde and Joe Newell were introduced at half-time in that game, and could start against City.
Will Vaulks – Rotherham’s only goal scorer in the three games over Christmas and scored the opener in the win against Preston last time out too.
Michael Smith – Likely to lead the line on Sunday as he looks to add to the five goals he has scored this season – a tally which includes what proved to be the winner on New Year’s Day.
Joe Newell – Stepped off the bench to set up the second goal against Preston on New Year’s Day and may have earned himself a start for this one as a result.
Rotherham ended a nine-match winless streak on New Year’s Day, when Will Vaulks and Michael Smith scored in a 2-1 win at home to Preston North End. The Millers had lost their last three in a row over Christmas, suffering a 4-0 defeat at home to Rotherham before losing to relegation rivals Bolton 2-1 on Boxing Day and Bristol City 1-0 the following Saturday. Vaulks was their goalscorer against Bolton, their only goal in that run of fixtures.
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