Town boss Mick McCarthy expects Rotherham United to be tough opponents as the Blues look to get back to form when they make their first ever visit to the New York Stadium on Saturday. The Blues have won just one of their six games in all competitions since the turn of the year.

McCarthy admits that the recent drop in form is a concern but points out that the Blues are still fourth in the table, just three points behind leaders Bournemouth and Derby in the other automatic promotion place, and two off third-placed Middlesbrough.

“Of course, but I don’t sit and worry about it,” he said. “We discuss it, what we can do to improve it and look for reasons why.

“We’ve had a fantastic season so far, we’re three points off the top. Because we’ve had such a good run, everyone gives me the stats, we’d lost one in 20 and now we’ve won one in six, but we’re still three points off the top.

“There are times in a season when that happens and it happens to everybody else, it’s just how you recover. But we’ve a really tough one at Rotherham on Saturday to try and recover.”

He says the Championship remains as unpredictable as ever with last weekend’s results illustrating the point.

“The league is bonkers, isn’t it? Look at it last weekend when the bottom teams all did well.

“Wigan came here and got a point and will have thought it was a really valuable point, but then they find out that Millwall have won and Blackpool won as well.

“And it’s the same at the top. The other week when results didn’t go well, you looked at it and Bournemouth lost, Norwich only drew and the teams behind us only drew, Wolves only drew, Brentford lost.

“We’re not going to win them all. It’s how you cope with that and whether you get so up or down with the results. And we try not to, I certainly don’t.”

McCarthy, who celebrates his 56th birthday on Saturday, is confident that Rotherham, who are currently 20th three points off the drop zone, will stay up, despite having won just once in their last seven games in all competitions.

“Absolutely, 100 per cent,” he insisted. “There’s no doubt in my mind that Rotherham won’t be in any danger. In fact they’ll be mid-table to the top end.

“TC and myself watched them against Bolton and they absolutely bashed Bolton [4-2], and at Charlton on Saturday they played well there and should have won the game [it was a 1-1 draw].

“They’ve got Frazer Richardson playing for them, they’ve got Paul Green playing for them, Conor Sammon, all lads who have been with me and know what we’re about.

“And I’d have to say Rotherham were like that. They were 4-4-2, they worked extremely hard, they’ve got some good players, Matt Derbyshire playing up front with Conor, who looks like he’s on his game. Ben Pringle’s back in the team. They’re a handy outfit, I have to be honest.”

One of McCarthy’s players from his time at Wolves, winger Adam Hammill, recently joined the Millers on loan.

“I remember when we played Huddersfield down here and James Vaughan missed a penalty and we ended up beating them 2-1,” the Town manager recalled.

“Adam Hammill was playing then, they were playing wing-backs and he was playing really well at the time.

“But for whatever reason it’s just not gone right for him this and last season with Huddersfield. So, I know all about him, he’s very capable and he’s one of those that has something that might pull it out of the bag at any time.

“Rotherham are a good side and the stadium is brilliant. Last Tuesday was the first time I’ve been there and I was stunned by it when you think about the old place, Millmoor.

“I played a lot of my football at Millmoor and the new ground really is a beautiful stadium. They’ll stay up, no problem.”

He added: “They’re very competitive, combative, they play their football when they can.

“But they get after you, they make you work. They did here. They played well here. I know we got off to a great start, a bit like they did against Bolton.

“We were 2-0 up [after six minutes] and it was difficult for them to recover. But they played well in that game. There have been a lot of changes in personnel, but they are a capable team.”

Given the recent downturn in results McCarthy may be considering one or two changes of his own.

Striker Daryl Murphy, the Championship’s top scorer on 18 goals, will certainly come back in up front alongside David McGoldrick with Noel Hunt set to drop to the bench.

In midfield, Teddy Bishop could start on the right having replaced Paul Anderson in that position at half-time a week ago.

Cole Skuse and Kevin Bru seem likely to continue in the centre with Jay Tabb or perhaps Stephen Hunt on the left.

At the back, the Town boss will probably stick with his usual backline of skipper Luke Chambers at right-back, Tyrone Mings at left-back and Christophe Berra and Tommy Smith in the centre. Bartosz Bialkowski will be in goal.

Rotherham have a concern regarding right-back Jack Hunt. The on-loan Crystal Palace man has a heavy cold.

Midfielder Lee Frecklington is likely to be back in the 18 after a hernia problem, while Jack Barmby has returned to his parent club Leicester.

The Town game comes at the start of a difficult month for the Millers but manager Steve Evans says matches against the likes of the Blues are a reward for winning promotion from League One last season.

“I said way back in July that if people want to know what winning at Wembley was about, just look at the games in February — Ipswich, Blackburn, Derby, Wolves and Watford,” he told the Rotherham Advertiser.

“We are in terrific form if you are one those clubs, you are not looking forward to playing Rotherham.

“Ipswich and Blackburn are two former Premier League clubs. Ipswich are flying high under Mick McCarthy and Blackburn have been in great form at Ewood Park, but we are confident.”

He added: “Mick McCarthy has done a great job at a tremendous club in Ipswich and I look forward to having a drink with him after the game.”

Overall, the Blues have won 13 of the previous games between the sides, all of which have been in the league, seven have ended in draws, with the Millers having won five.

In September at Portman Road, strike pair Daryl Murphy and David McGoldrick netted in the third and sixth minutes as Town took their winning run to four games via a 2-0 home victory to move up to fourth in the table.

Murphy nodded home from close range following a corner, before McGoldrick smashed a strike into the net from 25 yards.

Last time the teams met on Rotherham turf was back in August 2004 when the Millers were playing their games at their former home Millmoor.

Two Shefki Kuqi goals either side of half-time gave the Blues what was their first away win of the season with the home side rarely threatening as Town cantered to third place in the Championship table.

The Rotherham squad includes former Blues keeper Scott Loach - who is currently on loan at Peterborough - and ex-loanees Conor Sammon, Frazer Richardson and Paul Green.

No member of the current Town squad has played for the Millers, but academy coach Alan Lee had a successful spell with the South Yorkshiremen between 2000 and 2003 and fitness coach Andy Liddell was briefly a player and caretaker-manager there late in his career.

Saturday’s referee is Gavin Ward from Surrey, who has shown 83 yellow cards and five red in 32 games so far this season.

Ward’s most recent Town match was the 2-0 Capital One Cup defeat at Stevenage in August 2013 in which he booked only Paul Anderson.

Squad from: Bialkowski, Kenny, Chambers (c), Mings, Parr, Berra, Smith, Clarke, Skuse, Bru, Bishop, Tabb, S Hunt, Ambrose, Anderson, Stewart, Murphy, McGoldrick, N Hunt, Sears.

Photo: Action Images

billlm added 12:50 - Feb 6 2 proper full backs please only way to go, but he wont
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Walk_the_Wark added 12:57 - Feb 6 Blah blah blah Mick. Let's get one thing straight- Rotherham are NOT tough opponents. Sort your tactics and selection out and win comfortably please
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Surco72 added 13:06 - Feb 6 Rotherham are not a good side which is why they are three points of relegation ,pick the right team in the right positions and this should be three points like Bournemouth did a couple of weeks ago , or set up with the same faces and grind out a nil nil . A point would have been fine if we had won last week or against Brighton but we didn't
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Guthrum added 13:21 - Feb 6 No, no, Rotherham are not tough opponents, because they've only lost two out of their last ten League games (and those to Bournemouth and Brentford). Yes, lets underestimate them and indulge ourselves in some loose thinking based purely on relative positions in the table. This isn't some computer game, there's nothing straightforward about matches like this, especially away at a team scrapping to avoid relegation. I was at the corresponding home fixture and, despite our early lead, Rotherham fought hard for the rest of the game. Make no mistake, this is likely to be tough. We have the resources to win, but it will by no means be easy.

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Kirbmeister added 13:22 - Feb 6 Course they are tough opponents, they are fighting for their lives. Mick - some of the fans on here are so full of negativity it is unbelievable. They think we should win every game and be at least 10 points clear by now, please sort it.
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grumpyblue1966 added 13:26 - Feb 6 Be careful people saying Rotherham are not tough apponants every team in this league can beat anyone it could come back and haunt us
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sereneblue added 13:51 - Feb 6 Mick will take a point because Rotherham are a really strong side just like Wigan !!!!
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muccletonjoe added 14:11 - Feb 6 every side are tough opponents when you are not playing well , upto the players to roll their sleeves up and get at them
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Orraman added 15:07 - Feb 6 Looks like MM getting his excuses in first. He'll be telling Brenner after the game that he wouldn't have bothered getting off the bus if he'd known we would have got the draw he hoped to get. It's another point and there are no bad points.....and wasn't Tabby magnificent.
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Surco72 added 15:15 - Feb 6 All teams at the bottom are scrapping for their lives that doesn't make them good , they are down the bottom for a reason . 1 win in last 7 home games letting in 13 goals is not a team in form , agree no game is a given but we have to be looking at picking up all three points in fixtures like this if we are going to continue to stay in race and I think we will win
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NoelTheDub added 15:20 - Feb 6 It will be a big surprise if Mick takes Anderson/ Tabb out tomorrow and if thats the case I hope Murf/Mc goldrick are on song.Every game is tough Mick but the way we play makes it even tougher.If you are going to play our usual hoofball and it might work down there but please change it early if its not happening.Good luck all tomorrow and bring home 3pts.COYB...
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BlueandTruesince82 added 15:32 - Feb 6 Rotherham are tough oppenants, they stuck 4 past an in form Bolton and they have have a tough to beat mentality. No easy games, Cambs U vs Man U case in point. As Mick says we are 4th, 3 points of top and everyone one of us would have rolled over and had out tummies tickled for that at the start of the season. Whinge and Moan, are we Newcastle in disguise, or worse, Leeds? And these people claim to be realists

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battyblue added 15:47 - Feb 6 I like virtually everyone on here want Parr at right back Chambers is to slow can only hoof cant pick a pass and is a center back not a right back as he has stated himself,Parr is a natural right back plays the ball on the grass and doesn't get skinned by the winger,also Sears should start much more confident finisher than mcgoldrick is at the moment but you know mick stubborn as ever.

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bellazzurri79 added 15:55 - Feb 6 This should be our easiest away game of the season. Maybe apart from Blackpool. There are no more excuses .. If we draw it will be another 2 pts dropped when we shouldn't be dropping pts against these types of teams If we lose.... This will be an embarrassment ... Rotherham are a league one side in the championship ... I expect us to win and win big Problem is the way we are playing we will make this look tough I'm sure

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beardo7181 added 16:24 - Feb 6 We should win this game but like others have said Rotherham are fighting for their lives in this division and I for one fear that Connor Sammon will end up doing derby a favour and score against us.
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TheSelkirk added 16:35 - Feb 6 In the last couple of weeks, this forum has seen the return of those who seem to revel in any failure the Town experiences - having digs at MM, the players and ME. Before having a pop at MM, visit some other Championship team forums and see just how many mention how much that would love MM as their manager. He gets the best out of what he has available (shed loads of money will not be coming his way - or any other Ipswich manager in the near future). Tell me why you think we are in the top 6 right now? 1) Because we have a fantastic team and squad 2) Because we have been very, very lucky If you think 1), why are you whinging about MM? If you think 2) why would you believe that we should easily beat the likes of Rotherham? I'll suggest a third option. We have a bunch of players, who are not all blessed with outstanding individual talent, that MM has blended into a hard working and relatively successful team - on a budget of Jack. I would debate whether there are many other managers that could have achieved what he has with what he has got. He is realistic enough to "take a point" given our shortcomings. I would suggest that we remain thankful that we have MM at the helm, though I would imagine there will be those that will never agree and consider that someone else could do a far better job. Be careful what you wish for!

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warktheline added 16:42 - Feb 6 High expectations...as per normal on this forum, we should be beating them and them....blah blah. Extremely tough test tomorrow, go ask Lennon if in doubt. Really need to avoid defeat ,If we take a point, I won't complain, if we take 3pts then superb....go minus me for lacking ambition, in my book it's realism. It's a marathon not a sprint! BIG PICTURE etc, wasting my breath on many.

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PJH added 16:51 - Feb 6 Although I am going there expecting us to win, MM and the more sensible contributors on here are right in saying we cannot expect it to be easy. What do the MM knockers expect him to say? Something like "They are rubbish and we could beat them playing TC,Myself and a few of the youth team" We need to treat it the same as the games at Blackpool and Millwall-both of which we were probably expected to win and did win.

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jas0999 added 17:04 - Feb 6 Anything less than three points will be a very poor result. After the disappointment of Brighton and Wigan, we really need to get back to winning ways. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying this or any other championship fixture is easy. That's not the case. Just if we want a realistic chance of promotion, it's the type of game we need to win.
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NoelTheDub added 17:30 - Feb 6 TheSelkirk Very interesting post to read and as you are aware Im a bit of a moaner but some of my views are right and I post them.Im caught between A and B of what I believe our team is or can be,we are far from fantastic but very strong hard working team and many times we have been very lucky no harm in that as we all agree you need luck.Can Mick put a slightly better footballing side out, yes IMO maybe 2 or 3 changes more so at this time when its clear its needed.Its going to be a battle down there and the way we play will suit them as well as us so a different approach would be good.Parr,Sears,Bishop,Ambrose,would start for most teams in this league Tabb,Anderson and K Hunt wouldnt yes bring them on at some stage instead of the other way round.Hopefully either way Mick proves me wrong as been the case I just see it different.

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blueboy1981 added 17:54 - Feb 6 ........ here we go again - let's talk the opposition up into something special, as opposed to a team in 20th position - and we have a ready made excuse for a defeat, or another boring draw - Shall we ?? Haven't we seen and heard it all before from the same people - time, and time again. Rotherham are 20th because they are NOT VERY GOOD - FULL STOP. The team is made up of several of MM's rejects - so if they are as good as some portray - don't tell me he's let the wrong people leave us - surely not !!!

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blueboy1981 added 17:59 - Feb 6 ........ if we mean business, and are capable of a good season come May - we should be going there with confidence built up to take all 3 points. Go there with the wrong attitude, and we could easily lose it. Some genuinely difficult games coming up - this shouldn't be considered as one of those.
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PJH added 18:05 - Feb 6 blueboy(and others)-I doubt if you will find a quote from any manager anywhere saying "tomorrows game is going to be easy" irrespective of who they are playing. If anyone does say that or something like that, it is the sort of thing that gets pinned on the dressing room wall of the team that is being derided. There is a difference between going believing that you will win and saying you will win.

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bohslegend added 18:10 - Feb 6 I do laugh I see blueboy, noelthdub, Surco and Walk the Wark on here moaning away goodo. They just don't have anything encouraging to say at all when we're winning - it's like it sticks in their craw if we win. WE DO NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO SIMPLY TURN UP AND WIN! We've spent almost no money and we are 3 points off the top despite what each of you predicted at the start of the season. When will you all admit you were wrong? What, never?? Thought so. It's is precisely when a team is going through a difficult spell that they NEED the SUPPORT and ENCOURAGEMENT of the fans - not the bitter OTT reactions we get on here. Get behind the team - stop criticising, give them and the manager credit for getting us to the top of the league and stop second guessing about stuff just because you're an expert on FIFA 15 or Football Manager 2015. Armchair experts are the worst kind.

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blueboy1981 added 18:23 - Feb 6 ..... bohslegend. Do you and your confederates (you know who they are) EVER approach a game and EXPECT to win ??? No competition match should ever be seen as 'easy' - however, some are most definitely more difficult than others. This match should be one of the 'easier' in terms of expected points return. I wonder if any of your crew have EVER played the game you watch, or indeed managed a team, somehow I very much doubt it, because you continuously prepare for a defeat 'just in case' it happens. WINNING is what competition is all about - if you have to lose - then learn from the experience. No such thing in my book as a 'good loser'.

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