The international break does not stop all club football and the lower leagues of English football have some big matches this weekend. One of which takes place in League One as Southend United welcome Rotherham United to Roots Hall.
Southend start this game sitting in the bottom half of League One with 47 points to their name. Interestingly, a run of good or bad results could see them enter a late race for the playoffs or the relegation battle.
Rotherham have their sights fully fixed on promotion and would do their chances a lot of good by winning this match. They start the weekend in 4th place, 10 points adrift of second place Wigan and automatic promotion is probably out of the question. However, a win in this match should almost guarantee them a place in the playoffs.
Trends show Southend have failed to win their last four games in League One, losing one and drawing three. The three draws have come in their last three matches and while Southend are undefeated they have failed to pick up a win.
In fact, Southend have won just one of their last six League One games, which came at home against Portsmouth, a team currently above them in the table. At home, Southend have lost only one of their last six League One games but have failed to win in their last two attempts at Roots Hall.
Trends show Southend have failed to score in four of their last six league games but have scored at least 3 goals in three of their last five on home soil.
Rotherham make the long trip south having picked up a good 3-0 win at Northampton Town last time out. The win ended a run of two games without picking up a point as Rotherham lost to both Rochdale and Milton Keynes Dons.
Away form has been very good for Rotherham and they have lost only one of their last eight away League One matches. There have been wins at Blackpool, Bury, Walsall, Scunthorpe United, Shrewsbury Town and Northampton Town.
Trends show Rotherham have scored 2 or more goals in seven of their last nine League One games and in six of their last eight away matches. Rotherham have scored at least once in each of their last fourteen away games in all competitions.
Team news and Southend will be without Jason Demetriou and Harry Kyprianou who are on international duty and Elvis Bwomono or John White could come in to the team to replace the former.
Rotherham manager Paul Warne made five changes to the team ahead of the match at Northampton and it paid off. Therefore, the Millers could come into this match with same starting XI following a great performance.
This match could see plenty of goals as over 2.5 goals have been scored in eight of Southend Utd's last nine home matches in League One and seven of Rotherham’s last nine on the road. The away team are in better form and could come away with maximum points with over 2.5 goals scored.