Rotherham head to Swindon with McClaren calling for results and a long injury list
Wednesday 28 October 2026 · By Ivor Pomfret
Rotherham United showed fight on 24 October, and now head of football Steve McClaren wants results to follow. The Millers came back from a man down to draw 3–3 with Shrewsbury Town at the AESSEAL New York Stadium, and they sit 22nd in League Two with 12 points from 13 games, one place above the relegation zone.
Paul Mullin scored twice inside the first 18 minutes. Kian Spence was then sent off after 21 minutes, and Shrewsbury scored straight away through Josh Davison. Josh Ruffels and Will Boyle headed Shrewsbury in front, before substitute Tom Bradshaw headed the equaliser in the 76th minute. Shrewsbury’s Kian McMahon-Brown was sent off late on.
Head coach Alex Bruce was pleased with the response. “I felt as if there was a bit of a connection there again today between the supporters and the players,” he told the Yorkshire Post. The Rotherham Advertiser reported that he was critical of the referee, James Oldham, saying: “I didn’t think either of the red cards on show needed to be red cards.” Shrewsbury boss Gavin Cowan, for his part, said his side had been “a bit naive” at 3–2 up.
McClaren spoke to local media on Tuesday and was frank. “I’m not sat here going ‘Everything’s rosy in the garden’, because it’s not, far from it,” he said. “We’re in a results business. We need results, and I’m very confident we’ll get them.” He also told supporters to “keep the faith, keep coming”. The Advertiser said Rotherham have made 18 signings since his appointment in May, and McClaren said “regular recruitment meetings” are already looking ahead to January. He said he was positive that “whatever backing we need from the chairman, we’ll get”.
The table is tight. Rotherham are level on 12 points with Oldham Athletic, Colchester United and Port Vale. Vale are below them only on goals scored (six to Rotherham’s 17), as the two clubs have the same goal difference of minus six. Rotherham have conceded 23 league goals, the most in the division. Their last two league games were draws, 2–2 with Newport County on 20 October and then the 3–3 with Shrewsbury, after three league defeats in a row.
There are fresh faces. Brandon Williams, the 26-year-old left-back formerly of Manchester United, signed a short-term deal until 23 January after a long spell training with the club. Bruce said: “He deserves the contract. He’s worked really, really hard with us since pre-season.” The club needed cover because Ewan Otoo has a thigh injury.
The trip to Swindon Town on Saturday, kick-off 3pm, comes with problems. McClaren listed Fabio Tavares (Achilles), Otoo, Jamie Jellis (knee), Ossama Ashley (foot), Marvin Kaleta (hamstring) and the suspended Spence as unavailable. “We haven’t had the best of luck in terms of injuries, but that’s no excuse,” he said. Swindon are 14th with 16 points.
Next week Rotherham host Newcastle United Under-21s in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday 3 November at 7pm, and visit Bromley in the FA Cup first round on Saturday 7 November at 3pm.
The AESSEAL New York Stadium is a compact, modern all-seater ground of just over 12,000, opened in 2012 after Rotherham United left Millmoor and a spell at Sheffield’s Don Valley. It sits on New York Way (S60 1AH), between the railway and the River Don, about a ten-minute walk from Rotherham Central. For visiting supporters it is one of the easier EFL grounds: steep single-tier stands, clear sightlines, and an away end that is properly behind a goal rather than squeezed into a corner.
Away fans are housed in the Mears South Stand, the blue block on the plan, directly opposite the home kop. The typical allocation is around 2,000 to 2,500. If the following is small, a slice of the neighbouring Ben Bennett East Stand may be used instead. The South Stand is covered, fairly steep, and close to the pitch. There is a small scoreboard at the back of this end. The away ticket office sits behind the stand and usually opens 90 minutes before kick-off if any tickets remain; expect a small matchday surcharge. Buy through your own club first. Turnstiles are electronic: have your ticket ready and do not rely on cash at the gate.
Facing you is the KCM Recycling North Stand, nicknamed the New Tivoli after the old Millmoor kop. Home singers gather there and the seats spell out the club initials. To your left as you look at the pitch is the main Eric Twigg Foods Pukka Pies West Stand — tunnel, dugouts, directors, club shop and hospitality. To your right is the Ben Bennett Family East Stand, slightly shorter than the sides, with raised platforms for disabled supporters and a tighter family code. Capacity is split roughly 4,000 / 4,000 on the sides and 2,000 / 2,000 at the ends. Views are good from almost every seat; the West Stand is often rated best overall, but the away end is honest football: you are looking straight down the pitch at the home goal.
There is no general matchday parking at the stadium for home or away fans, only pre-booked disabled and permit bays. Coaches drop in the South Stand car park behind the away end. Drivers usually use Forge Island (S60 1EJ), Westgate, Sheffield Road pay-and-display, or town-centre NCP / Interchange multi-storeys, then walk ten minutes. Street parking around old Millmoor is a longer stroll. Train is the simplest option: leave Central, follow signs towards New York Way and the river. Allow extra time if you are collecting tickets at the away office.
Town-centre pubs generally mix colours. Away-friendly names that come up repeatedly are the Bridge Inn by the station, The Bluecoat (Wetherspoons) at The Crofts, the Cutlers Arms on Westgate, and the New York Tavern. Cover colours if a bar asks. Inside the ground you will find the usual pies, hot drinks and alcohol on the South Stand concourse; card or contactless only. Facilities are 2012-standard: clean toilets, decent kiosks, wheelchair bays in every stand including the away end. Flags and banners are usually fine if they are not offensive and meet fire rules — check with stewards if in doubt.
Atmosphere is typical of a tight new bowl: noise carries, the home North Stand tries to drive the game, and derbies or big followings fill the place. Stewards are generally straightforward. Keep an eye on kick-off and last-train times; Rotherham is compact but the walk back to the station is uphill for some routes after a night match. Ticket prices move with the division and the fixture, so treat published figures as a guide only and confirm with your club. If you want a familiarisation visit for accessibility, contact the club’s supporter services on a non-match day.
In short: South Stand behind the goal, walk from the station, park off-site, buy early, pay by card. The New York Stadium is not huge, but it is neat, close to the action, and easy to read once you have the four stands in your head — North home, South away, West main, East family.