17-goal main man misses out for Rotherham United's opponents
DROP-ZONE Rotherham United have been handed a huge boost as they prepare to try to end a run of four successive defeats and lift the mood at AESSEAL New York Stadium.
Free-scoring Plymouth Argyle are the visitors to S60 tomorrow for a League One clash but they are travelling north without top scorer Lorent Tolaj.
The 17-goal frontman, who moved from Port Vale to Home Park for a seven-figure fee in the summer, has suffered a muscle tear in his leg and is expected to be out of action for a month.
The news will come as relief to the injury-plagued Millers as they bid to put their first points of February on the board and climb higher than
next-to-bottom spot. Plymouth, in 11th spot, are one of the division's form teams and have been eyeing a late push for the play-offs.
Rotherham manager Matt Hamshaw, whose side lost 1-0 in the reverse fixture in December, said: “It's a tough test. They've spent a bit of money this season. I didn't expect them to be so low in the table when we played them down there.
“I thought we should have got something from that match. We played really well in the second half. I think they were lacking in confidence at that point. Obviously, they've been on a good run of results since, They've got some good players.
“But, look, nobody's really been that much better than us, other than Cardiff this season, and that should be the case on Saturday.
“I understand that the circumstances around this game make things tougher because we've not won for four games. Some people might choose to not come. I understand that. That's going to play into it. We just need to make sure that we're fully committed. It's about us, not Plymouth.”
Argyle are set to also be without midfielders Brendan Wiredu (abdominal issue) - a Millers target before the season began – and Herbie Kane (hamstring) along with defender Brendan Galloway (hernia).
They have won eight and draw one of their last 11 away matches.
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One to watch
Bim Bepple has hit form for Plymouth, scoring nine times in 13 appearances since Christmas. The 23-year-old joined the Pilgrims from Luton Town in the summer. He spent the first half of last season in the National league on loan with Southend United and then moved to League Two Chesterfield for the remainder of the campaign. He hit the target five times in 20 fourth-tier games for the Spireites. The striker was born in Kettering but moved when he was five and grew up in Canada.
Form guide
Millers: WWLLLL
Plymouth: LLWWWL
The Pilgrims have won their last three third-tier outings, against Blackpool, Leyton Orient and Cardiff City, scoring 12 goals in the process, but lost 2-1 at Luton Town on Tuesday in the quarter-finals of the Vertu Trophy.
Rotherham have 27 wins to their name and Argyle 31 in 75 contests between the clubs since 1952.
Past clashes
Dec 13 2025, League One: Argyle 1 Millers 0
Apr 5 2024, Championship: Millers 0 Argyle 1
Dec 16 2023, Championship: Argyle 3 Millers 2
Jamie Lindsay, Tom Eaves
Feb 26 2022: League One: Argyle 0 Millers 1
Michael Smith
Aug 2 2021, League One: Millers 2 Argyle 0
Freddie Ladapo, Ben Wiles
Apr 28 2018, League One: Argyle 2 Millers
Richie Towell
Dec 16 2017, League One: Millers 1 Argyle 1
Semi Ajayi
Apr 20 2013, League Two: Argyle 0 Millers 1
Kieran Agard
Oct 27 2012, League Two: Millers 1 Argyle 0
Agard
Last match
Rotherham played well at Home Park just before the festive period and deserved something for their efforts, but they fell to a first-half goal from Joe Ralls.
Opposition boss
Tom Cleverley became Argyle head coach in June after a spell in charge of Championship Watford. The Pilgrims have had an up-and-down campaign but are now playing their best football of the season and are around the top 10. Cleverley, aged 36, was a Manchester United, Everton and Watford midfielder during his playing days and won 13 England caps.
Man in the middle
Zac Kennard-Kettle, from Northumberland, is in his second season as an EFL referee. Rotherham fans will be familiar with his father, Trevor Kettle, whose retirement from officiating in 2022 was welcomed by supporters of clubs everywhere. Kettle's performance in the Millers 1-1 draw at Barnsley in 2005, when he sent off three away players and manager Mick Harford while also allowing a disputed last-minute equaliser for the home side, has never been forgotten or forgiven. Kennard-Kettle's 22 matches this season have seen him show 96 yellow cards and three reds. Last term, he took charge of Rotherham's 1-0 loss at Mansfield Town.
The odds
The bookmakers favour the visitors, offering a Millers win at 13/5 and an away triumph at 9/10. A draw is 5/2