| Brian Little takes his side to inform Rochdale for
the first of three away games in the space of seven days. With only one defeat in their
last six games, we are Rochdale's fourth successive home game in the
league and their recent form has resulted in Dale climbing into 14th
position with a return of 21 points from 15 games.
Lee McEvilly, who was released by Wrexham at the end
of last season, last week rejoined Rochdale on loan from Accrington and
he scored the only goal in his first game back when Dale
defeated Macclesfield last weekend.
McEvilly was not the only signing for Rochdale this
month with former Manchester United youngster, Jamie Mullan, signing a
short term deal after impressing on the wing during a recent trial with
the club.
Continuing the Wrexham connection, Rochdale manager Keith Hill,
who was Dennis Smith's first loan signing for us, made room in the squad
by allowing three on loan players to return to their parent clubs.
This is Hill's first full season in charge of Rochdale
after steering the club to football league safety after joining the club
almost twelve months ago.
Rochdale currently have the worst first half record in
the league as they have only held the winning advantage once at the
break but Hill's team talks have so far appeared to have hit the mark
with Dale improving after the break to record the fifth best record in
the second half.
Rochdale are celebrating their Centenary year this
season and are wearing black and white stripe shirts instead of their
normal blue.
Recent Encounters:
Rochdale had the better of us overall last season in
the three games between the sides.
Rochdale left the Racecourse with a 2-1 victory with
an early Chris Llewellyn strike cancelled out by two second half goals
from Chris Dagnall.
Rochdale returned to the Racecourse a few weeks later
in the Johnstones Paint trophy with Dagnall again on target for Dale.
Matt Crowell did score an equaliser but Rochdale went through 5-3 on
penalties after the game ended 1-1.
We looked to be gaining revenge on Dale when the two
sides met at Spotland on Boxing Day with Lee McEvilly and Chris Llewellyn
giving us a 2-0 second half league but Murray and Doolan replied to earn a point for
the home side.
Overall in league matches, we are currently ahead of
Rochdale with 51 victories compared to their 39 and there have been 21
draws in the 110 games between the sides.
Team News:
Michael Proctor has recovered from the knock to his
knee last weekend and Silvio Spann has returned to training following
his ankle injury but Ryan Valentine is still ruled out along with Danny
Williams, Mark Jones and Juan Ugarte.
Rochdale boss Keith Hill must decide whether to keep
faith with under-fire striker Glenn Murray for our visit, but last
season's top scorer, Chris Dagnall remains out with cruciate knee
ligament damage as Dale seek to build on last week's victory.
Elsewhere in League Two:
With this weekend scheduled for the FA Cup Second
Round, the only other game in League Two sees Shrewsbury entertain
Macclesfield at the New Meadow.
Rochdale are sandwiched in-between these two sides with
Shrewsbury still struggling for any from after their promising start
where as Macclesfield have gradually climbed up the league in recent
weeks. |
