Warne alive to Latics challenge

MILLERS chief Paul Warne wants to make sure his players hit the required standards this weekend against an Odham Athletic side he believes are in a false position in League One.

The Latics are bottom of the pile after eight league games, six of which have ended in defeat.

However they pushed leaders Shrewsbury close last weekend before losing 2-1 and before that won at Bristol Rovers and took a point at Fleetwood.

Warne has spoken to his old Rotherham team-mate and now Shrewsbury boss, Paul Hurst, and knows it will not be an easy test against a club where he spent two years as a player.

"Hursty remarked that at 1-1 Oldham had a great chance to win it but missed," said Warne. "Oldham were leading at Fleetwood and won at Bristol Rovers so since the transfer window closed their performances have been good.

"The league table is still a few games away from taking proper shape and I don't see them as a lower team.

"Obviously I played for John Sheridan during my time there and I know what he's like and they will come and enjoy playing on our pitch. They play decent football so we need to make sure we are up to the levels needed to win."

David Ball...injury absentee this weekend.

Rotherham have rattled in eight goals in their last two matches at the AESSEAL New York Stadium but will be looking to hit back from last week's narrow defeat at Bradford.

"In the league we've have had four wins and four defeats so far and tomorrow could tip the scale one way or the other," added Warne.

"The lads gave me everything they'd got at Bradford and in general I'm not disappointed with the way we have played.

"If we keep performing like that then we will win more than we lose."

On the injury front, the match is expected to come too soon for right-back Shaun Cummings, although he could be fit for Tuesday's trip to Blackburn Rovers.

Striker David Ball is expected to miss at least the next two matches. He has been suffering from tonsillitis and is nursing a muscle injury.

Joe Mattock serves a one-match suspension for his dismissal at Bradford, opening the way for Ben Purrington's return at left-back.

Kick-off is 3pm and we'll have all the build-up, updates and reaction on our Live Matchday Blog at www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk

For more on the Millers, catch our 24-page sports pullout in today's Advertiser.