Rotherham cruised to a thumping 5-1 win over Sunderland at the weekend and made a real statement of intent about their automatic promotion and play-off aspirations.

Both the Black Cats and the Millers have been fighting at the top end of the table so far this season in League One and in their crunch clash at the weekend, it was the home side who came out as the emphatic victors in what ended up being an extremely one-sided contest.

Paul Warne’s side looked like a team that could end up bouncing straight back into the Championship and looked sleek and stylish while they put five past Sunderland.

Their next fixture sees them face off against Charlton but, while the Addicks are struggling at the complete other end of the division, they have seen an upturn in form since the sacking of Nigel Adkins and now could be the most difficult time to come up against them.

After such a stunning victory at the weekend, why change a thing? Paul Warne is working with a side that have managed to see off a promotion rival in emphatic style and they should therefore be able to do a similar number on Charlton.

Freddie Ladapo was in scintillating form against the Black Cats and should start again alongside Michael Smith.

Behind them is a four man wall containing Daniel Barlaser, who completed the most passes of anyone in the game against Sunderland and could help dictate the play again against the Addicks.

 

 

Giving even further protection behind them is another man in the middle and a three man backline, which features Michael Ihiekwe who bagged a goal at the weekend.

Finishing up the eleven should be Josh Vickers, who has featured in just three games for the Millers so far this season but already has two clean sheets to his name - and in the other, he only let in one against that Sunderland side at the weekend. He is a rock between the sticks so should retain his place.