Rotherham United captain Joe Rafferty has come out fighting when asked about the Millers’ chance of survival this season.
The South Yorkshire side looks set for relegation to League Two after what has been a disastrous season for them.
In recent weeks, Matt Hamshaw was replaced by Lee Clark. Sadly, the former Huddersfield Town boss hasn’t been able to turn around the side’s fortunes.
Clark’s side are currently 22nd, 11 points off safety with three games in hand over their relegation rivals.
When asked about their chances of survival, Rafferty wasn’t so certain that they would go down.
“I‘ve never been relegated in my career and I’m not planning on it now”
Speaking to the Rotherham Advertiser ahead of their clash with bottom-of-the-table side Port Vale, Rafferty seemed well and truly up for the fight:
“It’s a mountain, let’s have it right. It’s a mountain of a task.
“It’s some challenge, but I think we can do it.
“I think that in patches we’ve seen glimpses of what we can do, so there’s definitely hope there.
“As I’ve said to the lads, if we do it, it’ll feel like the best achievement you’ve ever done”
Rotherham’s full-back ended with a simple message to the fans:
“I‘ve never been relegated in my career and I’m not planning on it now. If we’re going to go down, we’re definitely going to go down fighting.”
Can Rotherham United Beat the Drop?
Rafferty is right, the Millers have a mountain of a task ahead of them to avoid relegation to League Two.
Opta’s supercomputer has given Rotherham United a 97.6% probability of going down this season.
It believes the Millers will finish the season on 44.63 points, some way off Blackpool in 20th with 52.92.
Rotherham’s fixtures aren’t the most favourable between now and the end of the season.
Their trip to Port Vale looks like their only real chance of claiming all three points.
They have some tricky home games to contest. Visits from local rivals Barnsley, as well as play-off hopefuls Reading and Luton Town.
Clark’s side also have to go to Wigan Athletic and Leyton Orient, who have both lost once in their last six. The Millers end of the season with a trip to Wycombe Wanderers, who could still find themselves in the play-offs by the time the two sides meet.
The confidence is certainly there from Rafferty, but as club captain, he has to be defiant. However, the chances of Rotherham United playing League One football next season look extremely unlikely.
