Boxing Day 25/12/2018
Blackpool are beginning to lose touch slowly, but surely. They still sit in eighth with one game in hand, but having lost three games in their last four league matches their form is sliding at what is arguably the most important part of the season. Continue at this rate and Blackpool will find themselves vanishing from the promotion race . That makes Blackpool's boxing day clash with Rochdale all the more important as an opportunity to rediscover form is provided, Blackpool just need to take it.
Injuries and Suspensions:
Rochdale are not struggling with any injuries at the moment. Blackpool's Daniels will return to his former club but could be without defensive partner Curtis Tilt. Jimmy Ryan, Max Clayton and Jimmy Ryan will certainly be out but, Joe Dodoo could return after his ankle injury he sustained against Solihull.
The History:
Formed in 1907 Rochdale, or The Dale for short, only just evaded relegation last season as they finished twentieth. This season has shown little improvement as they once more are set to be battling it out at the wrong end of the table. Between 1974 and 2010 Dale spent thirty-six consecutive seasons in League Two, so their promotion in 2010, when they grasped the third promotion spot, would have proved to be a real relief. During their time in League Two they also lost out in the playoffs three times. They went on to do well in the next season, finishing ninth on sixty-eight points. Kieth Hill departed the club following their promotion, but has since returned and has been their manager since 2013, helping them return back to League One for a second time.
Their home football is played at the Spotland Stadium, which is currently known as the Crown Oil Arena for sponsorship, which has a capacity of 10,249.
The Manager:
Bolton born Kieth Hill had a sixteen year playing career in which he played as a defender. The majority of his playing career was spent at Rochdale where he played 154 times and this would be the club that would initially get him into coaching and then management. He also played for Blackburn, Plymouth, Cheltenham, Wrexham and Morcambe.
In 2006 he was given the caretaker manager's position after Steve Parkin was axed. He would get Dale out of a relegation scrap that year and would progressively build the club up to a promotion in 2010. After getting Dale promoted he quickly left for Barnsley, but there things just did not work out. He avoided relegation by just one place in his first year and, after losing Richardo Vaz Te, he was swiftly sacked in January.
On his return to Rochdale, he found them back in League Two and was able to get them promoted once more in his first full season. He has since managed to consolidate their place in the football pyramid.
The Players:
Rochdale have a number of quality players amoungst their ranks, but a position they have struggled with is the goalkeeper. Breandan Moore has been playing recently, with Lillis being favoured earlier on in the season. Defensively Ryan Delaney, Joe Rafferty and Harrison McGahey have been ever present in a well organised side. In midfield David Perkins will return to Bloomfield Road. David Perkins, who did not score a single goal for the Seasiders in sixty-seven games and then, on his return with Wigan, would strike his only goal in a Lactics shirt. Going forward there is one man who certainly stands out for Dale and that man is Henderson. Having already scored thirteen times this season the Rochdale hero will be a real danger man tomorrow and will have to swiftly be stopped.
Stats:
Favouring a 4-3-3 formation, Rochdale have heaved themselves six points away from the relegation zone and, after snatching a victory from Southend, they will be full of confidence. Rochdale are very much a confidence side, going on two or three match unbeaten streaks, but these have not been enough so far. On occasion they have surprised, defeating the likes of Charlton, but as a whole they have been depressingly predictable.
They have won 30% of matches and are scoring plenty of goals, 1.35 on average, but they have been conceding too many, recently conceding four to oxford, despite getting two themselves. They have shipped forty-two goals this season and this is an area Blackpool will seek to exploit on Wednesday.
The two sides have already met this season, slogging out a 2-2 draw.
Last Meeting:
More Info:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rochdale_A.F.C.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Hill_(footballer)
https://twitter.com/officiallydale
rochdaleafc.com/
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