It is the start of a new era for Rotherham on Saturday after they appointed Neil Redfearn as their new manager last week.
The former Leeds boss, who was in charge at Elland Road for our 1-0 win there in February, is the replacement for Steve Evans, who left the Yorkshire club after three years in charge in which he led them into the Championship via the play-offs.
Evans actually lost his job after leading the side to back-to-back victories – over Cardiff (2-1) and then at Birmingham (2-0) – which came after a shaky start to the season, in which they had failed to win any of their first seven Championship games.
Redfearn’s task will be to try to stop the Millers, promoted with us in 2014, dropping back into League One after two years at this level.
Last season, their first in the second tier for 10 years, they survived with one game to go – and were labelled favourites to go down this campaign in many pre-season predictions.
Their early season form matched the expectations of the pundits with four defeats in their first five games.
They suffered a 4-1 hammering by promoted MK Dons on the opening day and then lost 2-1 at Nottingham Forest before getting their first point in a goalless draw with Preston.
Further defeats against our west London rivals QPR (4-2) and Fulham (3-1) left them stuck at the bottom of the table but they then embarked on a three-match unbeaten run with a 1-1 draw at Charlton preceding the two wins.
In their last game before the international break they were beaten 2-1 at home by Burnley, with Andre Gray netting the opener.
WE’VE MET BEFORE
If recent matches between Brentford and Rotherham are anything to go by – whichever side scores first on Saturday will win the game.
That’s because in each of the sides’ last four meetings – only one team has scored.
Last season saw us do the double over the Millers. We earned a 2-0 win at the New York Stadium in late August courtesy of goals from Andre Gray and Nick Proschwitz – his only league strike in a Brentford shirt.
The return game in January saw a superb second half performance by the Bees rewarded by the winning goal from Stuart Dallas.
Those two results avenged those from the previous season in League One, when Rotherham took six points off us.
A 1-0 defeat at Griffin Park at the start of October was followed by a 3-0 hammering on a Tuesday night in the return game in March.
They were the first meetings for five seasons and they were better than the previous games in 2008/09 – both of which finished 0-0.
IN CHARGE
Neil Redfearn had a 24-year career as a player – making more than 1,000 appearances for a string of clubs.
He helped both Oldham and Barnsley reach the top flight but also had the unusual record of being relegated with six clubs – Barnsley, Charlton, Bolton, Lincoln, Scarborough and Halifax.
Neil had two spells as caretaker-manager at Halifax and three temporary spells in charge of Leeds before being made permanent manager during last season.
In-between that he has also managed Scarborough, Northwich Victoria and York.
OPPOSITION VIEW
Neil Redfearn has said he is relishing the chance to take on the Bees in his first game as Rotherham manager on Saturday.
He told the Millers’ official website: “It’s a good competitive game to go and pit our wits against a good Brentford side that on their day are capable but we’ve got to go there with confidence and enjoy the day.
“I saw Brentford at Derby and I looked at their strengths and their weaknesses and where we can get at them.
“I’ve got that in mind for when I do pick the team and it’s got to resemble a Championship side.”
Redfearn also revealed he has a mystery injury doubt for the match.
The Millers are already almost certainly without captain Lee Frecklington, who is recovering from a calf injury, and Redfearn told local paper The Star: “We have another doubt which I don’t want to talk too much about because we don’t want to give too much away.”
Rotherham are expected to bring a good backing and Redfearn added: “The fans play a big part in all this and they know that. They’re really important to us, and that backing becomes a massive part of what you do.
“They’ve had some great experiences in the last three years (two promotions and Championship survival) and we want to continue that.”
Redfearn is impressed with the quality of the squad he has inherited.
“We’ve got some good players. We’ve got to get in a place where we can settle down and be a little bit more consistent in what we do,” he explained.
SQUAD NEWS
Rotherham have used 25 players so in their 10 league matches with only defender Danny Collins and midfielders Joe Newell and Richard Smallwood starting all of them.
Striker Matt Derbyshire has started nine and made one substitute appearance and fellow front man Chris Maguire has split his starting time evenly between the pitch and the bench.
The Millers have also used three goalkeepers so far with the current man in possession being Lee Camp, who signed on a free transfer from Bournemouth on transfer deadline day.
Top scorer is former Oldham striker Jonson Clarke-Harris, who has hit three goals in his six full and two substitute appearances.
IAN WESTBROOK
@ianwestbrook
Drinking in Brentford
For Rotherham fans coming down, you are probably aware there plenty of pub options pre-match and all are most welcoming. Colours are fine and there is no ‘bouncer culture’ on the doors of our boozers – not yet anyway. All fans are welcome and most fans usually cite Brentford as their favourite away-day which we’re quite proud of.
As is etched in common folklore , there were four pubs around the ground until a few weeks ago – unfortunately one closed down to leave only three now. The Griffin is closest to the away end (like 30 secs walk) and is very popular with away fans – but also very very busy. The New Inn is on the other side is also popular with away fans. The Princess Royal is the other option (The Royal Oak was the one that closed down).
Other pubs slightly further afield for the more creative amongst you include (and this is by no means a definitive list) the … The Globe (Windmill Rd) is the Beesotted fanzine main pub – a very friendly pub indeed. The other boozer is The Lord Nelson (Enfield Rd) – both incredibly friendly and cozy away-frienly pubs and 30 seconds walk from each other .. frequented by ‘away fans in the know’. Boro fans and Bees fans had one hell of a party before and after the match in both these boozers (despite us losing)- and The Plough (Northfields Ave – 1 minute walk from the tube) in Northfields is a decent stop-off if you are coming by tube to Northfields before making your way down to the ground (normally stopping off at The Globe and Lord Nelson en route on the Northfields pub crawl).
Easily the best way to Brentford is to get the Piccadilly line from King’s Cross to either Northfields or South Ealing (35 mins). Northfields is preferred by fans in the know as it has a decent pub crawl run on the way to the ground (Plough, Lord Nelson, Globe). South Ealing has one posh puben route that doesn’t really like football fans so we won’t even give it a mention here. It’s 20 mins walk from either South Ealing OR Northfields to the ground or you can get the E2 bus from Northfields or 65 bus from South Ealing for the short 5 minute journey.
Some fans prefer to take the Victoria Line to Vauxhall then get the overground to Brentford mainline station. Depending on your connection time, this could be a slightly longer route as you could be waiting for up to 15 mins for a train and the train takes 26 mins to Brentford. Including you connection from King’s Cross this journey could take you the best part of an hour as opposed to under 40 minutes (plus the journey to the ground).
If you do take this route, there is also a pub right by Brentford station always referred to as … er … the Pub by Brentford station.
For ale head to the Magpie and Crown pub on Brentford High Street. The Royal Horseguardsman can probably hold 15 of you at a push. The Brewery Tap is a cosy boozer by the river. And if you are super adventurous, get off at Kew Bridge and visit the brand new boozer One Over the Ait right on the river – beside the bridge. Great views over The Thames. It’s around 15 mins walk to the ground from here.
There are loads more too. A quick google search and you’ll find them all. There are many many more too if you have a look around.
Parking is pretty easy away from the ground going up towards and over the A4 Great West Rd (ie. North) via Ealing Road or Windmill Road.
