MillersMad Match Thread...Millers v Bolton Wanderers

I know it's early but I thought I'd get this in before the festivities start.

Next up, we're destined for a trip to the Toughsheet stadium, home of Bolton Wanderers FC.

The Boss
Stephen Schumacher is no stranger to success at this level, winning the league with Plymouth in the 2022/23 season. Ironically, Schumacher also led Plymouth to the EFL Trophy final in the same season, losing to his current club Bolton in front of almost 80,000 fans. Appointed boss on 30/1/2025 Bolton supporters will be keen to see him replicate the success he had on the south coast with Plymouth.

If anyone is interested, this is what Schumacher has to say about the game with us on Boxing Day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_QvHQz9rfg

Who to watch
Mason Burstow
On loan from Hull City, the young marksman is top scorer for Bolton so far this season with 7 goals, all coming in the league.

Another player Bolton have on loan is Amario Cozier-Duberry. Currently on loan from Brighton, his trickery and pace will be a problem down our left side. Although he's currently at Brighton, he has represented Arsenal and England at various youth levels. The 20 year old is certainly a real prospect and definitely one to watch.

Thierry Gale
Bolton signed the 23 year wide-man from Rapid Vienna in the summer for a reported fee of 600k. The highly rated Barbadian is in his first season of English football and has scored 5 goals so far this season, one of which was against us in the EFL Trophy.

Last 6
Wycombe 2 v 1 Bolton (L1)
Bolton 2 v 1 Exeter (L1)
Mansfield 0 v 1 Bolton (L1)
Swindon 4 v 0 Bolton (FA Cup)
Bolton 3 v 0 Bradford (Vertu)
Luton 1 v 1 Bolton (L1)

Latest Odds
Bolton 1/3 Draw 7/2 Millers 15/2

Recent Meetings
(2/9/2025)
Bolton 1 v 0 Rotherham (Vertu)

(8/4/2025)
Bolton 0 v 1 Rotherham (L1)
Nombe.

(11/1/2025)
Rotherham 3 v 1 Bolton (L1)
Wilks(pen), James, Nombe.

Summary
Given recent performances, I just can't make a case for us to get anything out of this game. Injuries to Benson, Spence and I assume Reece James all add to the likelihood of this being a very uncomfortable afternoon for the Millers. That's the reality of the situation.

So a difficult game in prospect and I think most people would take a point right now. Hopefully the debacle of Huddersfield invokes some kind of reaction from the players, because we need to see one.

I'll keep it short and sweet folks and leave the summary there. Have a merry Christmas everyone and enjoy the game on Boxing Day.

UTM

A cast iron home win on the rapid downward spiral which Mr Stewart is unlikely to to rescue us from.

Safe trip over to those going. Sadly I won?t make it myself for family reasons so it will be TV but it should be a good game and I never take any game for granted against the Millers, even last year when we absolutely pummelled you you managed to sneak away with a Sam Nombe winner. I can?t wish you luck today but hope you pick up from there onwards. I think when fit you have a really strong squad so if you can just get bodies back on the pitch you should have no fears of staying in the bottom four. We have a full squad yet still aren?t pulling up any trees but I?m hoping for 3 points today. My Millers mad 9 year old granddaughter will be watching with me and she hasn?t seen you lose to us yet so I?m hoping for a first!! 😁

Staying under the bedsheet for this one and might stay there,wake me up in February!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by uttis

Staying under the bedsheet for this one and might stay there,wake me up in February!

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It's one of those games where we are expecting nothing and usually come up with something but if Saturday's showing is anything to go by, it's hard to argue that today will do anything but satisfy our pessimism.

To date Rotherham and Bolton have faced each other 47 times in all competitions. The first ever meeting between the two clubs came in Rotherham's famous League Cup run, that saw them reach the final, Rotherham winning the fourth round tie at Burnden Park by 2 goals to 0, a Syd Farrimond own goal and a goal by Ken Houghton earned Rotherham a fifth round home tie to Portsmouth.
Away at Bolton Rotherham have won 29% (7), drawn 29% (7) and lost 42% (9).
The highest attendance away at Bolton was in the 2021/22 season, 20,877 saw Rotherham win 2-0 with Ben Wiles scoring both goals. The lowest attendance away at Bolton came in the Football League Trophy this season when 2,063 turned up to see Bolton win 1-0 (Thierry Gale)
Bolton have an average attendance at home to Rotherham of 9,483.
Bolton's average goal per game is 1.13 at home to Rotherham. Rotherham’s average goals per game away at Bolton is 1.04.

Bolton Wanderers manager Steven Schumcher's record opposing Rotherham Utd: Pld 5, won 3, lost 2
Pld - Won - Drawn - Lost
Plymouth Argyle 2. 1 0 1
Stoke City 1. 1 0 0
Bolton Wanderers 2. 1 0 1
Matt Hamshaw's record against Bolton Wanderers: Pld 2, won 1, lost 1

Born & Bred, former Rotherham Utd players that were born on "wrong side of the Pennines" i.e. Bolton.
Nicky Adams, Luke Ashworth, Alan Kirkman, Billy Myerscough

Bolton Wanderers players sent off at Burnden Park/Toughsheet Community Stadium against Rotherham United
Thierry Gale 2025/26

Players that have scored a hat-trick for Bolton Wanderers at Burnden Park/Toughsheet Community Stadium
Joe Mason 2014/15

Players that made their Rotherham United debut away to Bolton Wanderers:
Andy Barnsley (1985/86), Ted Cann (2025/26), Hamish Douglas (2024/25), Dean Emerson (1985/86), Kelham O'Hanlon (1985/86), Kevan Smith (1985/86), Tommy Tynan (1985/86)
Players that played their last match for Rotherham United away to Bolton Wanderers:
Peter Madden (1965/66)

Most appearances for Rotherham Utd against Bolton Wanderers:
Mick Gooding 9
Gerry Forrest 9
Brian Tiler 8
David Bentley 8
Kelham O'Hanlon 8
Most appearances for Bolton Wanderers against Rotherham Utd:
Warwick Rimmer 16
Steve Thompson 12
Eddie Hopkinson 12
Dave Hatton 9
Syd Farrimond 9
Gordon Taylor 9
Julian Darby 9

Top Goalscorers for Rotherham Utd against Bolton Wanderers [current team]:
John Galley 5
Trevor Womble 3
Ben Wiles 3
Mike Trusson 3

[Sam Nombe 2]
[Reece James 1]
Top Goalscorers for Bolton Wanderers against Rotherham Utd [current team]:
John Byrom 4
Tony Caldwell 4
Joe Mason 3

[Thierry Gale 1]
[John McAtee 1]

Played for both (players in bold haven't made an appearance for Rotherham Utd, italics Bolton )
Retired players
Danny Bolton, Lewis Buxton, Ken Cameron, Matt Clarke, Barry Cowdrill, Tony Cunningham, Julian Darby, Delroy Facey, Gareth Farrelly, David Felgate, John Geddes, Dean Holden, Nicky Hunt, Justin Jackson, Mike Jeffrey, Nigel Jemson, Paddy Kenny, Paul Lodge, Jack Lowe, Gary Martindale, Jim 'Seamus' McDonagh, Jon Otsemober, Tony Philliskirk, Martin Pike, Les Roberts, Andy Roscoe, Scott Taylor, Steve Thompson, Matt Tubbs, Lawrie Wilson
Active Players
Tom Eaves (Northampton Town), Josh Emmanuel (FC Halifax Town), Kion Etete (Rotherham Utd), Peter Kioso (Peterborough Utd), Adam Le Fondre (FC United of Manchester), Jordi Osei-Tutu (Bolton Wanderers), Jamie Proctor (Ramsbottom United)
Active without a club
Chris O'Grady, Kieran Sadlier, Tom Thorpe, Danny Ward

Rotherham United's Boxing Day record: Pld 74, Won 29, Drawn 15, Lost 30
26/12/2018: Bolton Wanderers 2 Rotherham United 1 (Ameobi, O'Neil) (Vaulks)
26/12/2015: Rotherham United 4 Bolton Wanderers 0 (G.Ward, D.Ward, Newell, Clarke-Harris)

Ready for setting off soon. Safe journey and return trip to all who are going today.

Doesn't say we'll get a point today looking at the currebt form of both teams so, I'm going there with an optomistic outlook and anything gained will definitely be a bonus.

Maximum Nombe will play today is 25-30 minutes according to Hammy. As a closing thought, if he's any sense he will start with the three that finished the game against town. Powell in the middle and use Yearwood also. Martha and Hall can sort the wing play.

Where is Josh Ayres of late? Nothing from the club at all on his whereabouts. Let's hope we all enjoy the game UTM!

I would go to 4 at back and have James and Rafferty at full backs and push Denzel further forward high wide same with Kaleta and play Martha playing just behind Nombe. Swap Nombe off at half time for Otete and leave Hugill on bench unless we need him last 10 mins.

Watching on sky sports + don't rate Kaleta. Martha too lightweight. Hope James is fit to play left wing back. Play Baptist centre mid.

Watching this one out of a sense of loyalty rather than any optimism that we might pick up points - but, then, you never know.