Rotherham v Preston (7.45pm SKY)

[dropcap]H[/dropcap]ardly the most exciting match ever, never mind an Europa League final, but a nice profit on Wednesday thanks to the draw between Benfica v Sevilla.

Even the penalty shootout seemed exempt from the normal drama and it seemed more relief that the competition had eventually come to an end.

Back to the play offs tonight after we were rudely interrupted by the European action.

Leyton Orient have already booked their place in the League One final and will play either Rotherham or Preston who fight it out tonight (7.45pm, SKY) at the New York Stadium.

If it was a boxing bout I would have had Rotherham ahead on points after the first leg – it took a superb volley from Preston to equalise and it finished all square as indeed it has done the last three times these sides have met.

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Max last 10 only)
May 2014 League One Play-Off Preston 1-1 Rotherham
Feb 2014 League One Preston 3-3 Rotherham
Aug 2013 League One Rotherham 0-0 Preston
Apr 2005 Championship Rotherham 1-2 Preston
Aug 2004 Championship Preston 2-0 Rotherham
Mar 2004 League Div 1 Rotherham 1-0 Preston
Sep 2003 League Div 1 Preston 4-1 Rotherham
Dec 2002 League Div 1 Preston 0-2 Rotherham
Aug 2002 League Div 1 Rotherham 0-0 Preston
Mar 2002 League Div 1 Preston 2-1 Rotherham

As we saw with Benfica last night, hoodoos are hard to shrug off. Benfica have now lost their last EIGHT major European finals and Preston have failed to be promoted via the play-offs in EIGHT previous attempts.

Rotherham have home advantage tonight of course where they are unbeaten in their last 11 games. They are also a side that don’t mind scoring goals. Their tally of 86 goals this season has only been bettered by the champions, Wolves.

Rotherham for me. And hopefully not on penalties but inside 90 minutes.

RECOMMENDED BET (scale of 1-10 points)

6 points ROTHERHAM at around 29/20 with Star Sports

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RUNNING RETURN (MAY): PROFIT 6.15 POINTS

RUNNING RETURN (YEAR): LOSS 108.55 POINTS

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