Why Rotherham United fans might be seeing more of 4-3-3

Rotherham United will make their switch from a back three to a back four permanent if they can build on the midweek result that halted a run of four straight defeats.

Boss Alex Bruce has generally favoured a 3-5-2 formation this term as he embarks on a mission to revive the fortunes of the League Two Millers.

However, he opted for a 4-3-3 line-up against Newport County on Tuesday and was rewarded with a better display from his team and a point from a 2-2 draw, even though there was disappointment at the final whistle that the home side had thrown away a two-goal lead.

Bruce, who wasn't appointed until pre-season training was about to start, said: "People are always going to ask questions and say you keep chopping and changing the shape.

"A lot of that's had to do with injuries, a lot of that has to do with it being a new team and finding what system suits the players. We all know that I was late to the party in terms of recruitment, in terms of building our squad.

"We've had to learn on the job a little bit. If we get a couple of results then, believe me, I'll stick to it."

The head coach dropped young centre-half Sonny Aljofree against County and selected a defensive quartet of Joe Rafferty at right-back, Dominic Iorfa and Hamish Douglas at centre-half and Denzel Hall at left-back.

Skipper Rafferty has spent much of the campaign on the bench, but the 33-year-old's presence improved the team and he could now be in line for more game time.

"I thought he played very well the other night," said Bruce. "Raffs is one of the experienced heads in the dressing room. He needs to help the younger member of the group, and he's doing his best to do that.

The boss believes Rafferty and other players who have been at AESSEAL New York Stadium for some time are still carrying the scars of last season's relegation from League One.

"It's been a tough couple of seasons for him, like it has been for a few of the lads who've been here over the last couple of years," Bruce said. "It's about turning their heads around, changing momentum and getting them out of this losing habit.

"Denzel Hall's another one, and there's also Kian Spence, Lenny Agbaire, Emmanuel Adegboyega and Brandon Cover - lads who've been here for a while."

Right-footed Hall may have to continue playing out of position on the left because injuries have robbed the Millers of Ewan Otoo and Fabio Tavares on that flank.

Rotherham were showing encouraging signs of progress in the early stages of their 2026/27 programme, but four losses and some poor performances took a heavy toll on optimism.

They now find themselves in 22nd spot four months into Bruce's rebuild.

"Turning a club around goes beyond simply changing personnel within the squad," the head coach said. "It's not just players - it's staff, it's everybody connected with the club, from supporters to owners to chief operating officers to heads of recruitment to heads of football. You have success by sticking together and being as one.

If there are fractures within any club - within any business, for that matter - it doesn't work. There needs to be a man to try to gel all that together. In this case, there's a couple of us trying to do it. Steve McLaren (head of football) is perfect for the job.

"Steve said this week that he expected the first three months of this season, with all the change and all the dynamics of what's gone on, to not be a case of just waving a magic wand and everything being okay overnight.

"It doesn't quite work like that, and patience is key. I know sometimes asking for patience is hard, because we all want success tomorrow."

Bruce has plenty of faith in his squad and believes they can go on to make a big impact in an extremely tight division this term.

"It's still very early days," he said. "I gave an example to the team last wee: the Doncaster Rovers team in 2023/24 were down the bottom end of the table for much of the season, then they put a run together and finished in the play-offs.

"I want to go on and run, I think we're very, very capable of going on one. We just need to cut out the silly errors we've been making."