When Rotherham United vs Middlesbrough could take place after Covid-19 outbreak causes Boxing Day clash to be suspended

Middlesbrough’s Boxing Day fixture against Rotherham has been suspended after a Covid-19 outbreak in the Millers squad – with the game now set to be rearranged.
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Finding a new date for the match may prove tricky, especially as Rotherham already have to rearrange Saturday’s suspended game against Derby, as well as the threat of more games being called off.

During a hectic fixture schedule, we take a look at some of the dates when the Riverside meeting could take place.

Mid-week in January

Riverside Stadium.Riverside Stadium.
Riverside Stadium.
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Following Boro’s scheduled trip to Wycombe on Saturday, January 2, the Teessiders will face four more league games and an FA Cup tie at Brentford in the first month of 2021.

They won’t have a midweek match on the week starting on Monday, January 4, though that slot is likely to come too soon given that several Rotherham players are self-isolating.

There are also no midweek games on the weeks starting Monday, January 12 and Monday, January 25 which could accommodate the Boxing Day fixture.

FA Cup scenarios

More complications may be caused by this year’s FA Cup competition.

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Third-round ties are scheduled to take place on the weekend starting Saturday, January 9, with Boro set to travel to Brentford while Rotherham have been drawn away at Everton.

Championship games are also set to take place on the same weekend as the FA Cup fourth round, including Boro’s home game against Blackburn and Rotherham’s trip to Luton.

If both Blackburn and Luton progress, and Boro and Rotherham go out, in the third round, the Teessiders could face the Millers that weekend.

However, if either Boro or Rotherham reach the fourth round, it will result in a bigger backlog of games.

Leave the game until March

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The last midweek slot the game could be played for some time would be on the week starting Monday, February 8.

After that, both teams are set to face a gruelling run of seven games in 22 days up until Saturday, March 6.

All will of course depend on when Rotherham can start playing again, with the Millers set to face Barnsley on December 29, though that game will also be in doubt.

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