Why Matt Hamshaw should outlive a Bradford City defeat - Rotherham United need to look at Bantams blueprint | OneFootball

Despite a rocky start, Bradford's journey proves that patience with Matt Hamshaw can pay off

Matt Hamshaw’s start to live as a football manager could not have gone better. Four wins in eight games saw his Rotherham United side find play-off form, albeit at the wrong end of the 2024/25 season for anything of serious consequence.

His first nine games of his first full season in charge of the Millers has been a complete contrast to his initial phase. Nine games, two wins and six defeats later and the Rotherham fanbase have raised serious doubts around Hamshaw’s ability to lead the club into a new era of success, following three years of misery.

And Hamshaw’s worries are not about to ease, with Rotherham facing the in-form team of League One in Bradford City – a club who, not so long ago, had issues of their own and doubt over their table-topping current manager.

Matt Hamshaw should outlive the Bradford City game

With an entire fanbase’s doubts on the inexperienced Hamshaw, the most called-for opinion is that Hamshaw’s time as Rotherham manager should be up. With this position taken by a manager with more experience to steady the ship and oversee the transition.

In the bottom two and with no improvement in the initial start to the season, there are valid calls for the man behind the decisions to step aside.

But with four dismissals in three seasons, the downward spiral collapse of Rotherham as a football club is becoming increasingly evident – arguably, another sacking will only add fuel to the raging fire.

One look at Rotherham’s next opposition shows what sticking with a manager and a plan can do for a club. In January 2025, Bradford City were ninth under Graham Alexander, 11 points behind first place of the division they would getting promoted out of after a rampaging end to the season where 99% of the doubts were quashed.

This momentum and belief carried into this League One season, with Bradford being the top team in the division and starting their contest with Rotherham top and looking to extend a lead – a position fully deserved through their perseverance and style.

Taken from an objective viewpoint, the resilience and belief shown in Alexander has propelled the club into the position they are in now, top of League One.

After years of turmoil, the dissonance among the Millers’ community is fair and understandable – yet evidence suggests that sticking through these tough times can reap fruitful rewards.

Why a defeat v Bradford City is not the worst result for Rotherham

Hamshaw’s underperforming side host top of the table side Bradford in what appears to be an already done and dusted affair, with many fans on either side anticipating a Bradford win.

In football, anything can happen – but Rotherham will need to be sure fire of their ability and find a new gear if they are to get anything from this game.

Having said this, Hamshaw is still yet to put out his best side this season and defeat, at this stage of the season, would be cushioned by that.

Last season’s top scorer Sam Nombe has been absent since the second game of the season when he limped out against Stevenage, whilst the Millers are only just welcoming back fellow forwards Martin Sherrif and Kion Etete. These players will be greatly welcomed back in the final third of the pitch as Rotherham look to dominate there.

Centre halves Lenny Agbaire and Thomas Holmes have also had significant spells on the sideline in the opening stages of League One – adding defensive frailties in an already battered backline.

When these players return, Hamshaw should be able to make a tune out of the best players he has at his disposal.

Nombe is arguably one of the best forwards in the league, Holmes proved his leadership ability and players such as Joe Powell are yet to get up and running in the league this season.

A defeat against Bradford should not spell the end of Hamshaw’s reign as Rotherham manager.

Players returning will strengthen his hand and, on the evidence of last season, he is capable of winning results at League One level. There's a lesson to be learned looking ahead to Thursday too, with Bradford declining to pull the trigger in League Two on the manager that now has them top of League One.

12 months is a long time in football. Bradford will tell Rotherham that, and Hamshaw will be minded to remind Millers supporters of the same.