Winless Cambridge United will go in search of their first victory of the season on Tuesday evening when they welcome Rotherham United to Cledara Abbey Stadium in League One.
The visitors meanwhile have made a steady start to life in League One following on from their relegation last season, but staggeringly their last win on the road was all the way back in November 2022.
Match preview
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Cambridge's miserable start to the campaign continued on Saturday after a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Lincoln City, when goals from Freddie Draper and Bailey Cadamarteri left Garry Monk's side with a sixth league defeat in seven outings; their solitary point thus far coming in a dramatic 4-4 draw against Blackpool.
The U's are languishing at the foot of the League One table, and even more worrying for them is the fact that they are already six points from safety after just seven games, and having also remained winless across both the EFL Cup and EFL Trophy this season, there has been nothing to shout about for the fans.
In fact, you have to go all the way back to April for Cambridge's last victory; a 1-0 win over Blackpool was the last time the U's tasted victory and it is hard to see where the next victory is coming for Monk's side.
However, Tuesday's visitors have not won on the road since November 2022 and this should provide Monk and his players with some optimism that this midweek provides them with the opportunity to get their first win since April.
The U's have only scored six league goals so far this season though, so there will need to be a marked improvement in front of goal if they are to not only win on Tuesday, but if they are to put a run of form together and climb out of the relegation zone.
![Rotherham United midfielder Liam Kelly (4) on the ball during the EFL Sky Bet League 1 match between Wycombe Wanderers and Rotherham United at Adams Park, High Wycombe, England, on 24 August 2024 [on August 25, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/34/liam-kelly.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Rotherham United midfielder Liam Kelly (4) on the ball during the EFL Sky Bet League 1 match between Wycombe Wanderers and Rotherham United at Adams Park, High Wycombe, England, on 24 August 2024 [on August 25, 2024]")
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Rotherham meanwhile have made a solid enough start to life in League One after they were relegated from the Championship last season on just 27 points from their 46 games, but they do travel to Cambridge without a win in their last four league games.
The Millers come into Tuesday's game on the back of a 1-1 draw away to Shrewsbury Town on Saturday afternoon, when Jonson Clarke-Harris's second half penalty earned Rotherham a point after George Lloyd had given the hosts the lead in the first half.
Considering their dismal away record, Steve Evans will be delighted that his side also recently earned a 1-1 draw at Charlton, and Tuesday's trip to Cambridge represents a huge opportunity to earn their first away win in almost two years.
It is difficult to know what to expect from Rotherham this season though, as before a ball was kicked they were considered one of the favourites to make the playoffs, but others will have felt that this was going to be a season of consolidation before aiming for promotion back to the Championship in the 2025-26 season.
Team News
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Striker Shayne Lavery is still sidelined with a hamstring injury, and the striker is expected to be out until late October or early November.
The forward joins Josh Stokes on the treatment table, but Monk has no other injury concerns here, so there could be recalls for Elias Kachunga and Sullay Kaikai from the weekend defeat against Lincoln.
For Rotherham, midfielder Hakeem Odoffin is expected to be out for a second successive game due to a hamstring injury.
There were doubts over the fitness of Clarke-Harris for the trip to Shrewsbury on Saturday, but having appeared from the bench and scoring the equalising goal, he could be in line to start alongside Jordan Hugill in attack on Tuesday.
Elsewhere, they are also doubts over the fitness of defender Sean Raggett and forward Mallik Wilks, but both could potentially make the bench if they are deemed fit enough to feature.
Cambridge United possible starting lineup:
Reyes; Okedina, Morrison, Andrew; Kaikai, Digby, Smith, Longelo; Brophy; Kachunga, Nlundulu
Rotherham United possible starting lineup:
Dawson; Rafferty, Humphreys, McCart, Bramall; Tiehi, MacDonald, Powell, Wilks; Clarke-Harris, Hugill
We say: Cambridge United 1-0 Rotherham United
A home side without a win since April are coming up against a side that are winless on the road since November 2022, so while a draw could be on the cards, there is an argument that something has to give for one of these sides on Tuesday.
If that is to be the case, we think this could be the day that Cambridge pick up that elusive win and get their season up and running.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
