Focus turns from the league to the FA Cup this weekend in South Yorkshire with Rotherham United opening up Saturday’s fixtures against Everton at Goodison Park.
The Millers were knocked out in the third round of the FA Cup last season, losing 3-2 to Yorkshire rivals, Hull City, at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.
Rotherham beat non-league sides, Maidenhead United and Solihull Moors, before crashing out to the Tigers following a red card from Adam Thompson, before Tom Eaves grabbed a hat-trick despite goals from Michael Smith and Kyle Vassell.
The Toffees also lost in the FA Cup third round last season, losing 1-0 to Merseyside-rivals Liverpool, at Anfield.
Rotherham boss Paul Warne remains without no fewer than six players for their FA Cup trip to Everton.
Ben Wiles may get the nod at left-back in the absence of Joe Mattock.
Each of the previous five meetings between Everton and Rotherham have been in the League Cup, most recently a 3-1 win for Everton at Goodison Park in 2018-19.
Rotherham have lost each of their last four games against Everton at Goodison Park, with their sole victory there coming in November 1952 in a top-flight match.
Everton have lost five of their last six matches in the FA Cup (W1), as many losses as in their previous 27 games combined in the competition.
The Millers have lost each of their last five away FA Cup ties against top-flight opponents, scoring one goal while conceding 19 – most recently a 7-0 defeat against Manchester City at this stage last season.
Later on Saturday, Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United and Doncaster Rovers all play away from home in the FA Cup at 3pm.
Firstly, Doncaster Rovers will look to upset the odds as they face Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.
Darren Moore’s side have so far beaten FC United of Manchester (1-5) and Carlisle United (1-2) in the FA Cup this season.
Donny were knocked out of the FA Cup in the second-round last season, beating AFC Wimbledon after a replay, before having a day to forget against Gillingham, losing 3-0.
Blackburn Rovers were knocked out at this stage last season, losing 2-1 to ten-man Birmingham City despite a goal from the spot by Adam Armstrong.
This will be the first ever FA Cup meeting between Blackburn and Doncaster – Blackburn have already beaten Doncaster in cup competition this season, knocking them out of the EFL Cup in August.
Doncaster have been eliminated from nine of their last 10 FA Cup ties against sides from a higher division, with the exception being a 3-1 win at Preston in January 2019.
Premier League Sheffield United, take on League One Bristol Rovers, at the Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
Last season, the Blades got to the quarter finals of the FA Cup, only losing 2-1 to Arsenal after beating AFC Fylde, Millwall and Reading.
Bristol Rovers have already knocked two sides out of the FA Cup this season, firstly beating Walsall 2-1, then non-league Darlington 6-0.
The Gas were knocked out at this stage of the competition last season, losing their third-round replay away to Coventry City, 3-0.
Bristol Rovers and Sheffield United have met just once before in the FA Cup, with the Blades winning 2-1 in a first-round tie in 2012-13.
The Blades are unbeaten in their last eight meetings with Bristol Rovers in all competitions (W5 D3), with this the first game between them since a 0-0 draw in February 2017.
Sheffield United have won 14 of their last 15 FA Cup matches against sides from a lower division, with the exception being a 0-1 loss against Barnet in January 2019.
Elsewhere on Saturday, manager-less Sheffield Wednesday take on League Two side, Exeter City, at St. James Park.
The Owls were knocked-out in the fifth round of the FA Cup last season, losing 1-0 to Manchester City at Hillsborough.
Adam Reach scored the only goal in their third-round win at Brighton and Hove Albion before beating Queens Park Rangers 2-1.
This season, Exeter City have knocked-out AFC Fylde (2-1) and Gillingham (2-3) to make it to the third round.
The Grecians were on the wrong end of an FA Cup upset last season, losing in the second round to National League side, Hartlepool United, via a replay.
The Owls will be without caretaker manager, Neil Thompson, amongst other staff and players due to a “significant number” of COVID-19 cases at the club.
Academy coach, Andy Holdsworth, will be the fourth person to take charge of Sheffield Wednesday this season.
Exeter City and Sheffield Wednesday last faced in a League One tie in February 2012, which Exeter won 2-1. Indeed, Exeter have won five of the last six meetings between these two sides (L1).
Sheffield Wednesday have never won away to Exeter City in six previous attempts (D1 L5), despite only failing to score once in those matches.
Since beating Rochdale 2-1 in 2013-14, Sheffield Wednesday have either lost (once) or been taken to a replay (twice) in their last three FA Cup ties against sides from a lower division.
Finally, Barnsley will face League Two side, Tranmere Rovers, on Sunday at Oakwell in the FA Cup.
The Tykes went out in the fourth-round last season, beating Crewe Alexandra (1-3) before coming unstuck at Fratton Park, losing 4-2 to Portsmouth.
So far this season, Tranmere Rovers have knocked Accrington Stanley and Brackley Town out of the FA Cup.
Tranmere were one of the standout performers of last year’s FA Cup, only losing in the fourth round to Manchester United (0-6).
The Super White Army knocked out Wycombe Wanderers (after a replay) and Chichester City before drawing 3-3 at Vicarage Road and subsequently winning the replay 2-1 at Prenton Park.
Barnsley won their only previous FA Cup meeting with Tranmere, winning 4-2 away in a fourth-round tie in January 1936.
This is the first meeting between Barnsley and Tranmere in any competition since the 2005-06 campaign, with the Tykes winning both League One games against Rovers that season.
Barnsley are looking to reach the FA Cup fourth round in consecutive seasons for the first time since doing so in three campaigns between 1996-97 and 1998-99.
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