York City vs Rotherham United Prediction, Betting Tips & Preview

Featured Offer

bet365

Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets

Claim Offer →

Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org #ad

York City

vs

Rotherham United

KickoffTuesday 22 September 2026, 7:00pm

VenueAESSEAL New York Stadium

CompetitionEFL Trophy

York City have been making decent progress in their return to League Two, but the EFL Trophy is where things get a little more complicated. Tuesday night brings Rotherham United to the LNER Community Stadium, and while this is a group stage game rather than a title decider, both clubs will want a winning platform to build from. For York, it is about bouncing back after that loss at Chesterfield last weekend. For Rotherham, a win here could put them in pole position to advance from the group entirely.

This is not a throwaway cup tie either. These two sides met in League Two just last month, so there is a bit of familiarity there, a bit of needle. Scott Lindsey will be using this to give fringe players a run out, but Rotherham might just field a slightly stronger side, and that could be the difference.

York City vs Rotherham United Match Details

This EFL Trophy group stage clash takes place at the LNER Community Stadium in York. It is just over a month since these sides drew 1-1 at the New York Stadium in League Two, making this a quick reunion in a different competition. York are playing their second group game having already been beaten by Newcastle United Under-21s in their opener, while Rotherham enter the competition fresh, playing their first EFL Trophy fixture of this season.

Team News

Both managers are expected to ring the changes, though neither squad is completely free of injury concerns heading into this one.

• York City are without Morgan Williams, Hiram Boateng and Josh Stones through injury
• Scott Lindsey made sweeping changes for the Newcastle Under-21s game and is expected to do similar here, with Banks, Grey, Boyes and Hunt likely to be given a breather
• George Sykes-Kenworthy keeps his place in goal ahead of first choice Alfie McNally
• Joe Felix, Arthur Read, Zech Medley and Jovan Malcolm are all pushing for minutes and a chance to impress the gaffer
• Rotherham are without Lenny Agbaire, Hamish Douglas, Marvin Kaleta and Jamie Jellis
• Alex Bruce is expected to rotate given the busy schedule, with Mullin, Hall, Ashley and Austerfield potentially rested
• Dominic Iorfa, who started on debut at the weekend, could keep his place as he gets up to speed
• Kian Spence, Emmanuel Adegboyega and Kieran Ngwenya are all in contention to start

Predicted Lineups

York City are likely to go with a side that mixes youth and experience on the fringes of the squad. Sykes-Kenworthy starts between the sticks, and the likes of Felix, Medley and Malcolm will be keen to put their hands up. Lindsey has a settled enough first eleven in League Two, and this is a chance for others to stake a claim.

For Rotherham, Bruce will still want a competitive display even with rotation in mind. Iorfa starting again makes sense given he needs minutes, and Spence and Ngwenya getting opportunities from the off feels likely. The starting shape might be a little unfamiliar but the quality should still be there to cause York problems.

• York City: Sykes-Kenworthy; Hunt, Palmer, McArthur; Felix, Stiver, Read, Medley; Malcolm, Akinyemi, Pearce
• Rotherham United: Cann; Adegboyega, Iorfa, Ngwenya; Hall, Spence, Fitzgerald, Cover, Buyabu; Bradshaw, Sebine

Recent Form

York City have had a solid enough start to life back in League Two under Scott Lindsey, picking up 11 points from their first six league matches. The highlight was that 4-0 hammering of Swindon Town where Alex Newby grabbed a brace and Ollie Banks and Ollie Pearce also got on the scoresheet. That was the kind of result that turns heads. However, they could not carry that momentum into their trip to Chesterfield, where they were beaten 2-0 with Lee Bonis and Dilan Markanday both scoring in the second half. Before that, in the EFL Trophy, they were beaten by Newcastle Under-21s despite leading through Joe Felix, so confidence heading into this one will not be sky high.

Rotherham have had a mixed start to their League Two campaign but the trajectory feels positive. After the opening day defeat, Bruce has steadied the ship, and Saturday’s win at Northampton, where Paul Mullin converted a penalty late on, suggests a side that is beginning to find its feet. They have scored 10 and conceded 10 in seven league games, so it is clearly a work in progress defensively, but the attacking intent is there. Having played four league games already in September, this cup tie represents a chance for Bruce to blood some of his squad options while keeping momentum going.

The contrast in cup form is notable. York have already lost once in this EFL Trophy campaign and cannot afford another slip if they want to progress. Rotherham come in fresh and, even with rotation, they should have enough quality to make life difficult at the LNER Community Stadium.

Head-to-Head Record

These two sides met at the New York Stadium in August in what was a League Two contest, and it finished 1-1. York actually went there for Rotherham’s first competitive game of the season, which in hindsight makes the draw a reasonable result for the Millers, who were still finding their feet under Bruce. York will feel they can take something from this game based on how that one went, but home advantage in the cup is a different proposition.

Beyond that recent meeting, Rotherham have historically been operating in higher divisions, so head to head records at this level are a little thin. What we do know is that the teams are familiar with each other right now, having played competitive football against each other fairly recently, which cuts both ways. York will not fear them. But Rotherham will not fear York either.

Key Stats

• York City have lost their last two matches across all competitions and have not kept a clean sheet in their recent run
• Rotherham have scored 10 goals in seven League Two games this season, showing genuine threat going forward even with a rotating squad
• York have conceded three goals in their only EFL Trophy game this campaign, letting in a two goal second half collapse against Newcastle Under-21s after leading at half time

York City vs Rotherham United Betting Tips

This is an EFL Trophy group game with rotated squads on both sides, but Rotherham look the sharper outfit right now. They come into this on the back of a league win, they are entering the competition fresh while York have already tasted defeat in this campaign, and Bruce is likely to field a slightly more competitive starting eleven even with changes. The value here is in backing the Millers to edge a tight one.

Over and Under Goals Prediction

With both teams rotating and neither defence looking particularly watertight right now, there is every reason to think goals will come. Rotherham have been involved in high scoring games at both ends this season, and York have already shipped three in a single cup tie. Back over 2.5 goals.

First Goalscorer Prediction

Tom Bradshaw is the pick here. Even in a rotated Rotherham side, he offers a physical threat up front and has the experience to make things happen in a game like this. With York likely fielding a patched up back line, a clever forward who knows where the net is looks a decent shout to open the scoring.

Corners Prediction

Both sides like to get bodies forward and with cup football often producing a more open game than the league equivalent, expect plenty of set piece moments. Over 9.5 corners looks a reasonable call here given the attacking intent both managers will want to encourage through their squad players looking to impress.

Correct Score Prediction

A 1-2 to Rotherham feels about right. York will not be completely passive at home and will likely find the net at least once, but the Millers have enough about them to come away with the three points in what should be a close and reasonably open game of football.

Both Teams To Score (BTTS) Prediction

Yes, back both teams to score. York have shown they can find the net even in their tougher outings, and Rotherham’s defensive record of 10 conceded in seven league games shows they are not exactly a brick wall at the back. A goal at each end feels like the most natural outcome of this one.

Bet Builder Tip

Rotherham winning while both teams score and the game going over 2.5 goals ties together neatly given what we know about both squads right now and the open nature of EFL Trophy football at this stage of the competition.

Final Match Prediction

York City will be desperate to get back on track after back to back defeats, and home advantage matters in games like this. But Rotherham look the better organised side right now, and Alex Bruce arriving with genuine momentum after that Northampton win gives the Millers a psychological edge. Even with both gaffers rotating heavily, the quality in the Rotherham squad looks that little bit sharper at this particular moment.

Expect a tight game at the LNER Community Stadium, with York giving a good account of themselves, but Rotherham edging it. We are going with a 1-2 Rotherham United win.

Featured Offer

bet365

Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets

Claim Offer →

Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org #ad