Captain Morgan and his Millers are aiming to defy history

Rotherham United were often the brunt of fans’ jokes for being the ‘third team in Sheffield’.

But now Millers fans are the ones with huge smiles on their faces after seeing a remarkable transformation in their club’s fortunes.

Long gone are the days of being tenants at Sheffield’s Don Valley Stadium, after being forced to leave Millmoor.

A move to the impressive New York Stadium – which has a hint of a mini Emirates or Old Trafford from the outside – and a return to their home town saw Steve Evans’s side gain promotion from League Two last season.

The Millers have made an impressive start to life in League One, unbeaten after five games and in a play-off place, but it was their League Cup humbling of Sheffield Wednesday last month which really had home fans buzzing.

Tomorrow, Rotherham will look to complete a historic Steel City double when Sheffield United make the short trip.

“That’s the plan,” said Millers captain Craig Morgan. “We are not getting carried away, though.

“After Don Valley, coming back home has been great for all the fans. It’s a massive game because it’s the first one here (against Sheffield United).

“We have been pleased with our start, but we are not getting carried away with ourselves.

“It’s another game, but with the added spice of it being a derby. The lads are refreshed and looking forward to the game.

“With us getting promoted last season, there were obviously some good atmospheres, good days.

“Obviously, against Sheffield Wednesday it was a great atmosphere and I would think it will be pretty similar to that.”

A wary Morgan points to the fact the Millers have yet to play any side in the top six.

“I think this team has adapted well to League One so far, but we have some good teams to play as well yet,” said 28-year-old Morgan, pictured.

“We haven’t played any of the (current) top six. It’s different but each league comes with its own challenges. The calibre of players means you can get hurt more by the opposition.”

Morgan is not reading anything into the poor start of the Blades, who have not won since beating Notts County on the opening weekend of the season.

“So early in the season, I don’t think form really matters,” said the Welshman. “They have obviously just brought in a couple of players, but it is really early yet.

“I don’t think they will be too disheartened going into the game.”

Rotherham will have to defy history if they are to triumph tomorrow. In 14 league meetings between the pair at Millmoor, the Millers have managed just two wins (1951-52 and 1980-81).

And in their last nine meetings, Rotherham have failed to win, their last success coming in the second leg of a League Cup tie in 1989.

Rotherham were unusually quiet during Monday’s transfer window closure, with manager Steve Evans frustrated in his bid to bring in three players.

Deals had been arranged with Championship clubs but the Millers were victims to moves further up the chain failing to materialise.

“We came close to bringing people in. If you had asked me on Monday lunchtime, I would have said we were going to bring in three new players,” said Evans, who has several first-teamers out injured and Kari Arnason and Michael O’Connor absent on international duty.

“By 2pm that decreased, and by 8pm it was down to nil. We had options, we had funds available, we could have brought in one or two players.

“But, hand on heart, I didn’t think there was value for money and didn’t believe those players would play a big part when we had others back available to us.

“So I pulled the plug at 9pm and went home.

“It’s football. We were part of a chain of events at a higher level. The only thing that changes in the Premier League and the Championship to League One and Two is the zeroes at the end of the numbers. Nothing else changes.

“We were speaking to a couple of managers in the Championship, who were relying on getting players from the Premier League on loan.

“When they thought they were happening, we were happening. When they went a little bit cold, so did we.”