Millers focus on cup

ROTHERHAM United aim to stretch their unbeaten run into the FA Cup this weekend.

They face in-form Championship leaders Bournemouth in a third-round tie at the AESSEAL New York Stadium on Saturday having taken five points from a possible nine over Christmas.

After grabbing an unlikely point when coming back from two goals down to draw with Huddersfield Town on Boxing Day, the Millers let two points slip from their grasp at Blackpool on Monday.

Despite creating plenty of chances and seeing Tom Lawrence have a first-half penalty saved, they had only a goal from loan man Emmanuel Ledesma to show for their dominance and were punished by a late equaliser.

The result still edged the Millers six points clear of the bottom three and they're unbeaten in six matches, a sequence that has included five draws.

This Saturday's tie is the first of two meetings with Bournemouth in the next fortnight because they are due back at the New York Stadium on January 17 for a league game.

By that time manager Steve Evans hopes to have sorted the futures of Ledesma, Tom Lawrence, Reece James and Scott Wootton, the on-loan quartet who have helped improve results.

He also wants to make other adjustments to his squad ready for the second half of the season.Added Evans: “We'll try and do some business. I've got to speak to the chairman and we've identified some people we would like.”