Rotherham United v Leeds United: YEP jury predictions

STEPHEN CLARK

When Leeds United collapsed to defeat against Derby County at Easter three seasons ago, I, for one, was hoping it would be the last time that Neil Warnock would ever be seen at a Leeds United game.

When he took over, the club was on the fringes of the play-off places, but it was clear that Simon Grayson’s time had run out. The appointment of Warnock was the last desperate gamble of Ken Bates and was a decision which finally halted the momentum that had been built up by promotion from League One.

Warnock saddled Leeds with a squad of overpaid journeymen that produced football which was as unpalatable as anything seen at Elland Road in the last 25 years. Leeds United was supposed to be his final challenge in the game. It was a challenge which was far too big for him.

Somehow he continues to find a living in the game, and the man who has made as many comebacks as Frank Sinatra is enjoying a bit of a renaissance at Rotherham United.

His latest “last challenge” is to keep the Millers in the Championship and, at the moment, he is making a pretty decent fist of things.

Rotherham have proved a tough nut for Leeds to crack since our relegation from the Premier League.

In fact, Leeds have failed to beat the men from South Yorkshire in the Championship, with our only recent success coming in this season’s FA Cup clash, which saw the Whites run out 2-0 winners.

Steve Evans finds himself back under pressure after the capitulation against Huddersfield.

His team selection that day was baffling to say the least, and the decision to rest Cook and Diagouraga came back to bite him. Leeds were listless against the Terriers and he cannot afford any more performances like that if he wishes to extend his tenure as head coach.

Leeds are not yet completely safe, and should Rotherham eke out a win in this one, we will be looking nervously over our shoulders once again.

Neil Warnock set Leeds off on a downward spiral, and he would take great pleasure in seeing us continue to tumble down the league.

Having already put one over on us this season as well, “masterminding” a victory at QPR when he was placed in caretaker charge back in November, I have a sneaking suspicion he will be laughing at our expense again tomorrow.

Prediction: Rotherham United 2 Leeds United 1.

KEITH INGHAM

If you’d told me at the start of the season that Huddersfield Town would beat Leeds 4-1 at Elland Road and Rotherham would win their fourth game out of five at Ipswich Town, I might have given you a quizzical look, but, remember, this is the Championship and a club’s position in the league counts for little when it comes to results – or so it seems.

‘Mr Midas’ Neil Warnock, apart from his spell as Leeds manager, seems to be working his golden touch in South Yorkshire.

Warnock has transformed a team that looked like relegation favourites into a side that will have teams as high as ourselves slightly nervous.

By no means are Leeds United safe yet; there are nine games including this Yorkshire derby to navigate to guarantee our safety.

Hopefully, a few days off and then some hard work on the training pitch will have the players in the right frame of mind to get back to winning ways, starting tomorrow.

However, this squad can’t relax and contemplate where they will be holidaying just yet.

As I’ve said before, strange results have happened all season and this game is hard to call.

The fans deserve no less than one hundred per cent effort at the weekend – and for the rest of the season.

Prediction: Rotherham United 1 Leeds United 2.

MATTHEW EVANS

If ever a match typified the futile game of Championship manager musical chairs in which United are such active participants, it’s this one.

For the third time this year it’s Leeds v Rotherham, former manager against former manager.

This time, however, it’s a different former manager, one who we have also already faced once this season. Leeds have come off second best in league ties against both Neil Warnock and Neil Redfearn, and there’s nothing to suggest tomorrow will be any different. Warnock has Rotherham playing well right now while Steve Evans’ Leeds are an inconsistent shambles. Rotherham will want the win more and I suspect they will get it.

Prediction: Rotherham United 2 Leeds United 1.

JAMES HARRISON

It’s been a long two weeks since our hammering by Huddersfield and we head straight into another Yorkshire derby.

Revitalised Rotherham United are a due a bad result and our players have something to prove.

Prediction: Rotherham United 0 Leeds United 2.

DAVID WATKINS

The international break may or may not have been good timing for Leeds coming as it did straight after the humiliation of a home thumping by Huddersfield. Hopefully we will have used the time well and will come out fighting at Rotherham. We haven’t done well against them since they got back in the Championship though; the defeat at the New York Stadium in October 2014 and the 0-0 draw at the end of last season were against Steve Evans of course while the defeat to the Millers at Elland Road this season was against Neil Redfearn. Now, Evans will be hoping to upset Neil Warnock’s rekindled side that appears to be set to defy all the odds by escaping relegation with a run of four wins and a draw in their last five games against some of the best sides in the Championship. The defeat to Huddersfield made us glance at those relegation places again so a win at the New York would just ease any remaining fears.

Prediction: Rotherham United 1 Leeds United 2.

GARY NEWBOULD

The Millers have been revived under Neil Warnock with four wins and a draw in their last five. If United remain “in their deck chairs” they will be swept aside and possibly dragged into the relegation mire. Time for another reaction!

Prediction: Rotherham United 2 Leeds United 2.