Both aiming to bounce back from defeats in the early stages of the new League One season, Rotherham United and Wigan Athletic will meet at the New York Stadium on Saturday.
The hosts have lost two of their opening three outings in England’s third tier, while their visitors sit on six points from four games.
Match preview
Rotherham United head back into League One action on Saturday aiming to bounce back from consecutive defeats in England’s third tier.
On the back of a 13th-placed finish on their return to the division last time around following Championship relegation, they headed into the 2025-26 term under the new permanent management of Matt Hamshaw with hopes of a more sustained promotion bid.
The Millers enjoyed a winning start, beating Port Vale 2-1 at home on the opening day thanks to Sam Nombe’s brace, but they have since failed to add to their points tally in two away trips, firstly falling to a solitary Jamie Reid goal against Stevenage.
Then on the back of a penalty shootout win to scrape past fourth-tier Salford City in the EFL Cup, the South Yorkshire outfit visited newly-relegated Cardiff City last weekend and left empty-handed following a 3-0 beating, as Yousef Salech had the hosts one goal up at the break and Cian Ashford and Rubin Colwill added their names to the scoresheet in the second half.
Now returning to action having not been involved in the division’s midweek round due to Burton Albion’s EFL Cup tie, Rotherham United return to the New York Stadium in search of a second league victory of the season to kickstart an improved run.
Their visitors, meanwhile, make the trip across to South Yorkshire aiming to rebound from a midweek defeat in what has been a mixed start to their campaign.
Wigan Athletic headed into the 2025-26 term under the management of Ryan Lowe, who led them for the final 11 games of last season, with the hopes of building on their 15th-placed finish last time around, and they also enjoyed a winning start at home to Northampton Town.
A 2-0 away defeat to Leyton Orient followed, but the Latics would bounce back with an EFL Cup triumph over Notts County and 2-0 home victory against Peterborough United thanks to first-half goals from Christian Saydee and Jason Kerr.
Then aiming to build on that three-point haul and make it three wins from four league outings, Lowe’s men faced a tough trip to newly-relegated Luton Town on Tuesday and left empty-handed as George Saville’s ninth-minute goal made the difference.
Wigan Athletic now head to the New York Stadium with their first two away league outings having produced two defeats and no goals, and they will bid to correct that record and put a third notch in their wins column on Saturday in a bid to establish themselves at the right end of the division in the coming weeks.
Rotherham United League One form:
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Rotherham United form (all competitions):
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Wigan Athletic League One form:
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Wigan Athletic form (all competitions):
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Team News
Rotherham United remain hit by the injury of key attacker Sam Nombe, who has missed the last two matches after netting their only two league goals of the season so far on the opening day and 14 in League One last season.
Ar’Jany Martha may again support front man Jordan Hugill in Nombe’s absence, with fellow attacker Kion Etete and midfielders Kian Spence and Josh Benson also confined to the treatment room.
Given those losses, Liam Kelly should again join Dru Yearwood and Daniel Gore in the engine room, while Joe Rafferty and Marvin Kaleta will both hope to displace Lenny Agbaire and join Sean Raggett and Zak Jules in defence.
Wigan Athletic will remain without Isaac Mabaya, Matthew Smith, Dion Rankine, Chris Sze and James Carragher on Saturday due to ongoing injuries.
There is competition for spots in Ryan Lowe’s squad, particularly in attack, with Maleace Asamoah, Dara Costelloe, Christian Saydee and Joseph Hungbo all competing to come in from the outset.
Asamoah may displace youngster Tobias Brenan and take up a wing-back role, while Will Aimson, Jason Kerr and Morgan Fox form an experienced back three.
Rotherham United possible starting lineup:
Dawson; Rafferty, Raggett, Jules; Hall, Gore, Kelly, Yearwood, James; Martha, Hugill
Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:
Tickle; Aimson, Kerr, Fox; Asamoah, Weir, Adeeko, Robinson; Costelloe; Mullin, Saydee
Rotherham United have looked devoid of attacking threat so far this season, particularly in the absence of key man Nombe, and we see Wigan Athletic taking advantage and leaving the New York Stadium with all three points at the weekend.
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