Rotherham vs Brighton Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

This will be a test of Brighton’s mental toughness as much as anything. They come into the game after two damaging defeats but a game against rock bottom Rotherham should provide them with the perfect opportunity to get back to winning ways. Judging by recent Millers’ games, it could be the 2nd Half when most of the action takes place.

Rotherham have been competitive in a lot of games this season but their tendency to fall apart after the interval and particularly in the closing stages, has been a consistent problem. Their weekend game was typical of that in many ways. Their game with Villa was goalless going into the final 25 minutes but they conceded twice late on, to lose 2-0 and fall further adrift at the foot of the table. Jonathan Kodjia’s goal was the 24th they’ve conceded in the final 15 minutes of league games this term. Brighton by comparison have only conceded 23 in the opening 75 minutes of their matches.

There may be a few nerves in the visiting camp and they too have been vulnerable defensively in the latter stages of their last two games. They conceded twice in the final ten minutes against Newcastle last week and three times in the final half hour at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Going forward though, they should have enough quality to really threaten this weak Rotherham defence, that has conceded 2.26 goals per game this term. Chris Hughton may opt to make a few changes after their defeat at the City Ground but one man who will surely keep his place is Anthony Knockaert. The Frenchman has scored 11 times already this season and the Millers may find him tough to live with here, so backing Knockaert to score anytime at 13/8 looks like a decent bet.

He may have to wait a while before gaps really start to show in this Rotherham defence though. There have been more goals in the 2nd Half than the 1st Half in all of Rotherham’s last 12 games in all competitions, with Rotherham conceding the vast majority of those. They are playing for pride really now but if Brighton go ahead, heads may really drop in the home team as the game wears on and the Seagulls’s dented confidence should begin to restore. Therefore, Brighton could pull away in the closing stages here and backing Half with Most Goals – 2nd Half at 21/20 looks good.