Rotherham United opposition hit by ban and injuries

Matt Hamshaw's 13th-placed men are up against Lincoln City tomorrow at AESSEAL New York Stadium and know that victory could push them to their highest position in the table so far this season.

The Imps will provide a stern test as they are in fifth spot but they head to S60 minus Tendayi Darikwa and with a big question mark hanging over another first-team regular, Ben House.

Right-back Darikwa is suspended after being sent off during last Saturday's FA Cup first-round exit in a penalty shoot-out at Salford City while attacker House picked up an injury in the same game.

“Housey is going to be maybe a week, maybe a bit longer,” said Lincoln head coach Michael Skubala.

There are other doubts in the Imps camp as well.

“We’ve picked up a couple of other injuries through training in the last couple of days," Skubala said. "I don’t want to give anything away there about personnel.”

Rotherham have issues themselves and a dearth of fit senior centre-halves means that young Hamish Douglas is poised to be pressed into action again following his first league start against Burton Albion on Tuesday.

The 20-year-old academy product bagged a stoppage-time equaliser in a 2-2 draw and is determined to hang on to his place for as long as possible.

“You've just got to go out and play your best and keep yourself in the team,” he said. “I've come into the side and the lads have tried to help me out. They know I'm young, they know I don't want to make mistakes. But if I do, they're there to help me.”

The Millers head into the clash unbeaten in their last five third-tier outings and Douglas added: “Hopefully we keep getting points and more clean sheets and keep going as we are because we're on a great run.

“We didn't feel sorry for ourselves (because of all the injuries) against Burton, we just went out there and dealt with what was in front of us.”

Lincoln have in their ranks former Rotherham loanee Dexter Lembikisa who spent six months in S60, making 25 appearances, during the Championship reign of Matt Taylor.

The 21-year-old Wolverhampton Wanderers right-back is due to spend the season with the Imps.

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One to watch Veteran striker James Collins has hit the target five times this season in 19 outings. Now aged 34, he began his career at Darlington and has gone on to make more than 700 career appearances and score well over 200 goals. He is best known for his time at Luton Town and Derby County. The former Republic of Ireland international – two goals in 13 appearances – joined Lincoln last January.

Form guide

Millers: WWWWLD

Lincoln: WLWLDD

After a midweek goalless league draw at Bradford City, the Imps drew 1-1 at Salford in the FA Cup on Saturday before losing 4-2 on penalties.

In 105 contests between the clubs since 1920, Rotherham have 53 wins and Lincoln have triumphed 28 times.

Past meetings

Jan 1 2025, League One: Lincoln 0 Millers 1

Joe Powell

Dec 3 2024, League One: Millers 2 Lincoln 1

Sam Nombe, Sean Raggett

Mar 15 2022, League One: Millers 2 Lincoln 1

Ben Wiles, Chiedozie Ogbene

Sep 14 2021, League One: Lincoln 1 Millers 1

Michael Smith

Feb 7 2020, League One: Lincoln 0 Millers 1

Matt Crooks

Nov 12 2019, Football League Trophy: Lincoln 3 Millers 0

Aug 10 2019, League One: Millers 0 Lincoln 2

Aug 8 2017, League Cup: Millers 2 Lincoln 1

Jamie Proctor, Anthony Forde

The last clash

Rotherham gave one of their best away displays of Steve Evans' managerial reign, triumphing 1-0 on the first day of 2025. They dominated the contest – in which centre-half Cameron Humphreys was superb in a new role as a defensive midfielder – and deserved their winner through Joe Powell's 85th-minute strike.

Opposition boss

Michael Skubala was named head coach of Lincoln two years ago and the Imps came close to making the play-offs in 2024, missing out on a top-six spot on the final day of the season. The Nottingham-born 43-year-old was a coach at Leeds United when the Imps offered him a boss's role. Once director of football at Loughborough University, he had worked in England's under-18 set-up before moving to Elland Road. Last term, he led Lincoln to an 11th-placed finish.

Man in the middle

Alex Chilowicz is an American referee who has been working in the EFL since 2023. He has taken charge of three Rotherham games: the 2-1 Championship home win over Millwall in April 2024, the 1-0 League One loss at Leyton Orient in October 2024 and the 0-0 third-tier draw at Huddersfield Town last January. The 37-year-old, who has extensive MLS experience, was raised in New Jersey and plays the saxophone so well that, away from football, he works as as a musician, with credits in television, film and on Broadway. This season, he has shown 43 yellow cards and two reds in 12 matches.

The odds

The bookmakers fancy Rotherham less than they do Lincoln, offering a home win at 41/10 and an away victory at 13/10. A draw us 9/4.