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West Bromwich Albion will begin their 2026-27 season on Saturday by travelling to AESSEAL New York Stadium, where they will take on Rotherham United in the first round of the EFL Cup.
The visitors will look to use the weekend's game as a springboard for their coming campaign in the Championship, whereas Rotherham will be using the game to prepare for their season in the fourth division of English football.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Rotherham United vs West Bromwich Albion key stats
- Rotherham have scored exactly one goal in five of their seven pre-season games.
- West Brom have scored first in six of their last eight games.
- West Brom have scored at least three goals in three of their four friendlies this summer.
- Rotherham conceded at least three goals in three of their last six competitive fixtures.
Rotherham United vs West Bromwich Albion: The beginning of the 2026-27 season
Rotherham United vs West Bromwich Albion — Tale of the Tape
| Rotherham United | vs | West Brom |
|---|---|---|
| 23rd (2025-26 League One) | Position | 21st (2025-26 Championship) |
| 41 | Points | 51 |
| 41 | Goals For | 48 |
| 71 | Goals Against | 58 |
| 10 | Clean Sheets | 14 |
| 22nd | Home / Away Rank | 22nd |
The 2025-26 season was one of immense disappointment for Rotherham United, who ended their League One campaign in 23rd place with just 41 points, suffering relegation to League Two.
Rotherham will be competing in that division for the first time in 13 seasons, and head coach Alex Bruce will be expected to lead a successful promotion charge, though the 41-year-old has never held a full-time managerial position.
In last season's EFL Cup, Saturday's hosts were beaten 2-1 by Barnsley in August 2025, and they have been eliminated in the first round twice in the past six campaigns.
Rotherham signed Ewan Otoo earlier this week, and he has been used in a variety of positions in midfield and defence during his career, so the 23-year-old could appear in a number of roles on the weekend.
West Brom are set to embark upon their sixth consecutive season in the Championship when they play Norwich City on August 15, and they enter the new campaign with James Morrison in the dugout.
The head coach was appointed on a permanent basis in April – he was appointed interim boss in February – and he boasts a record of five wins, six draws and two losses.
Morrison's side have faced Rotherham four times since the turn of the decade, winning three of their meetings with their hosts while only losing once.
An elimination on Saturday would be West Brom's fourth consecutive exit in the first round of the EFL Cup, so striker Barney Stewart will have to be at his best if the club are to avoid an early exit.
Rotherham United vs West Bromwich Albion form guide & betting tips
| ROT | vs | WBA |
|---|---|---|
DWLWD |
Pre-season form | WWWW |
| 5 | Goals For | 13 |
| 4 | Goals Against | 2 |
N/A |
EFL Cup | N/A |
Whispers predicts: Rotherham United 1-3 West Bromwich Albion
With the two teams separated by two divisions, the bookmakers believe that an away win is likely, with a West Brom victory priced at 1/2 (1.5).
Given the visitors have scored first in six of their last eight games, backing West Brom to Score First at 4/9 (1.44) could be the way to go.
Rotherham have scored exactly one goal in five of their last seven matches, and a bet of Rotherham to Score Exactly One Goal at 6/4 (2.5) makes sense.
The visitors have scored more than two goals in three of their four friendlies, so a prediction of Over 2.5 Goals for West Brom at 7/4 (2.75) could be sensible.
> West Brom to Score First at 4/9 (1.44) | Likelihood: Probable
> Rotherham to Score Exactly One Goal at 6/4 (2.5) | Likelihood: Possible
> Over 2.5 Goals for West Brom at 7/4 (2.75) | Likelihood: Outsider