Leeds vs Rotheram certainly isn’t high on the list of famous rivalries but it means a lot in this part of the world.
Leeds United manager Garry Monk has told the club’s official website that he is expecting a difficult encounter against a Rotherham United side managed by his old boss, Kenny Jackett.
The Millers have lost three out of four games since the former Wolves boss replaced Alan Stubbs at the helm last month, while Yorkshire rivals Leeds had entered the play-offs for the first time since late 2013 before being dispatched by league leaders Newcastle United on Sunday.
And Leeds are heavy favourites to return to winning ways against a team who have already been cut adrift at the bottom of the Championship table, though Monk is not taking anything for granted as he prepares to take on a manager who coached him at Swansea City between 2004 and 2007.
“I have great respect for Kenny, he took me to Swansea and was fantastic with me, he is a very good and experienced manager,” Monk told the club’s official website.
“Rotherham will want the points as much as we want the points, we will need to show our quality, try and dominate to come out on top.
“We are expecting a very difficult game, it is a derby game and the passion and spirit always comes out from the fans on these occasions and we are preparing for that.
“We are focusing on ourselves, if we get to the performance level we know we can, we know we will continue win games.
“This group has a really good mentality, it is important now that we go to Rotherham and show we can react, like we have done in the past.”
Rotherham have endured a dismal start to the campaign but a shock result against their high-flying neighbours would go some way to dissipating the negativity that is surrounding the New York stadium at the moment.
However, Leeds are likely to be fired up for the encounter, aiming to return to form after a disappointing display against the runaway leaders last weekend.
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