It has been excitement all the way on Rotherham's cup juggernaut this season and Stoke stand between them and a place in the Carling Cup quarter finals tomorrow.Championship opposition such as Southampton, Sheffield Wednesday and Wolves have all been despatched by Rotherham in the Carling Cup this season but they face their biggest test at Stoke tomorrow. The Millers have also beaten Leicester and Leeds in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy this season and are enjoying a fine campaign.
Their 17-point deduction has been wiped out and although they are currently lying 21st in League Two, optimism is high that they can reach the play-offs. One of the main factors behind Rotherham’s impressive start to the campaign is the presence of Drewe Broughton in attack as the experienced striker is leading the line with aplomb. Broughton took a gamble in the summer after being released by MK Dons and turned down a host of Blue Square Premier clubs as well as offers from abroad to continue his career.
With no club in August when the campaign began it looked as though Broughton's gamble might blow up in his face. However, a move to Rotherham has ensued and he is delivering the goods and, as givemefootball's Ian Clarkson discovered in an exclusive interview, hopeful of reaching the quarter finals of the Carling Cup.
IS THIS TIE AT STOKE A GAME TOO FAR FOR ROTHERHAM?
Realistically, all the games against Sheffield Wednesday, Southampton and Wolves should have been games too far for us. We will go to the Britannia Stadium with belief otherwise what is the point? Stoke are the favourites to win but you never know what can happen in cup football as we have proved this season. I think League Two is closer than ever to the Championship. There are still one or two teams who are clear but the gap has definitely been closing over the past couple of years.
HOW FAR CAN THIS TEAM GO?
Our best chance in a cup competition of reaching the final this year has to be in the Johnstone's Pant Trophy. I was at MK Dons last year when we beat Grimsby in the final and it is a great experience. We have already beaten arguably the two strongest sides in the tournament in Leicester and Leeds so reaching Wembley is a realistic aim for us. We can enjoy the Carling Cup and see what it brings.
YOUR STRONG SELF-BELIEF IN THE SUMMER PAID DIVIDENDS DIDN'T IT?
I never doubted myself but there was a point once the season had started when I thought I have got to start paying my bills! Even my family were saying 'what are you doing?' as I had turned down quite a few offers. I am 29 and had felt so good last year that I thought I couldn't drop into the Conference and that has paid off at Rotherham. I played a couple of reserve games and then the gaffer gave me my chance against Chester and I haven't looked back. I have earned myself a contract until the end of the season.
HOW DO ROTHERHAM COMPARE TO LAST YEAR'S DOUBLE WINNERS MK DONS?
They both try and play football in the right way, which means we don't launch it. Both clubs have good young managers who are ambitious and have a good pedigree behind them. Mark Robins has the background of being at Manchester United and it shows as his standards are extremely high and that rubs off onto the players.
WHAT ARE YOUR AMBITIONS THIS SEASON AFTER BEING HIT WITH A MASSIVE POINTS DEDUCTION BEFOREHAND?
There is a feeling within the squad that that we can reach the play-offs. Our first target was to reach nought points and we have done that and we now want to climb the table. Anything is possible as long as we keep the strong self-belief we have played with so far this season. Personally, I am really pleased with my form and building on from last season where I felt I played the best football of my career. I have more experience now and it isn't just a case of leading the line as I feel as though I am scoring more goals now. I feel fit and am really excited about the next five years as my game is really coming together.
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