Two well-known faces lying in wait as Rotherham United head to Reading
A ROTHERHAM United old boy could be in the opposition line-up this weekend as the Millers hit the road again following the League One draw at Luton Town.
Andy Rinomhota had a spell on loan at AESSEAL New York Stadium during the 2023/24 Championship relegation season that started with Matt Taylor in charge and ended with Steve Evans in the hot-seat following the dismissal of Leam Richardson.
The midfielder had been without a club since leaving Cardiff City at the end of last season and was picked up by Saturday’s opponents, Reading – now managed by Richardson – as a free agent last week.
The 28-year-old, who made 16 appearances for Rotherham after Richardson brought him in during the January transfer window, began his career with the Royals, racking up 139 outings before his move to South Wales.
He has yet to play for them since his return but is expected to be in the squad on Saturday.
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One to watch
Reading midfielder Lewis Wing spent the latter part of the 2020/21 Covid season on loan with Rotherham from Middlesbrough. He left Boro for Wycombe Wanderers in 2022 and made the switch to the Royals a year later. Now aged 30, he has an eye for a goal and has hit the target four times in 17 appearances this term. He angered Millers fans with his comments about his spell in S60 when he went on to have a temporary stint with Sheffield Wednesday soon afterwards. He said: “I enjoyed my time there. It served its purpose. But I didn’t really want to go back."
Form guide
Reading: DLWDLW
Millers: WWLDWD
The Royals lost 3-2 on home territory to National League Carlisle United at the start of the month before seeing off high-flying visitors Stevenage 1-0 a week later. They had no match last Saturday because of the international break.
Fifty-three contests between the clubs since 1969 have brought 12 wins for Rotherham and 25 for Reading.
Recent meetings
Feb 15 2025, League One: Reading 2 Millers 1
Sam Nombe pen
Oct 5 2024, League One: Millers 2 Reading 1
Nombe, Hakeem Odoffin
Feb 14 2023, Championship: Reading 2 Millers 1
Lee Peltier
Aug 13 2022, Championship: Millers 4 Reading 0
Richard Wood, Conor Washington, Jamie Lindsay, Chiedozie Ogbene
Feb 27 2021, Championship: Millers 0 Reading 1
Oct 24 2020, Championship: Reading 3 Millers 0
The last clash
Rotherham had had a goal wrongly disallowed by referee Thomas and were set for a 1-1 draw last February as the contest at the Select Car Leasing Stadium slipped into added time. However, Zak Jules was then harshly adjudged to have brought down Harvey Knibbs who picked himself up to score a 93rd-minute winner from the penalty spot.
Opposition boss
Reading's manager is a familiar figure, having been head coach of the Millers in his previous job. Richardson replaced Taylor and lasted for less than five months before being relieved of his duties to make way for the return of Evans. The 45-year-old, who led Wigan Athletic to the League One title in 2022, was out of work until taking the Royals role late last month following the sacking of Noel Hunt.
Man in the middle
Alan Young made the EFL list in 2018 after three years in the National League and has previously taken charge of only one Millers match - the 3-1 home win over Bolton Wanderers last January. In 12 matches this term, he has shown 52 yellow cards and sent off three players. From Swindon, he is chief executive of the Bedfordshire FA.
The odds
The bookmakers are offering 4/5 on a home win and 16/5 on Rotherham taking all three points. A draw is 12/5.