Richie Smallwood has urged his teammates not to take Rotherham for granted when they host the Millers on Saturday.

Smallwood knows better than most the threat the Millers pose having spent three years there between 2014-2017 as they achieved promotion to the Championship.

Rotherham head to Ewood on the back of an impressive 2-1 home victory against Swansea City, as well as draws on the road at Middlesbrough and Preston.

But as Rovers chase a third home win in a row, Smallwood said: “I think there have been a few teams who have come to Ewood this season and looked to only take a point at best from games against us.

“I know Rotherham don’t have the best form away from home, I think they have only picked up two points on the road and I don’t think they’ll be coming with an open game plan.”

Smallwood played 133 times for the Millers and worked under current boss Paul Warne in the second half of the 2016/17 season.

He added: “I know a bit more about them and I know they have quality in the dressing room and a really hard working manager.

“I think we need to focus on ourselves but be respectful of them.

“They showed that they have quality by beating Swansea City last weekend.

“To get the win would make it a great start. It would more or less put us in the play-offs and in the mix for after the international break when the games come thick and fast again.”

The 27-year-old is also urging Rovers’ fans to get behind the side.

Smallwood told the club website: “Every little helps, we know we’ve got the quality and obviously have the backing.

“A few people talk about the Oxford game on the last day of the season, and obviously we got the job done.

“It was a big success, and why can’t we get that every week in week out? It’s a great stadium, the players work hard to make them proud of their team and we’ve got the quality to match that.

“So why not come back and support us, every little helps, and everyone needs a little boost from time to time. On any given day we might need that.

“I think halfway through last season we knew it was going to be great, and we’ve brought that into this season and hopefully they keep coming back.

“We keep putting on performances, making them proud and putting points on the board so we keep looking up.”