Dale Vs Darlington

On Sky

Rochdale welcome Darlington to Spotland in front of the Sky cameras on Saturday looking to build on their weekend win against Port Vale and their midweek draw away at Shrewsbury to keep their automatic promotion ambitions alive

Vital Quotes:

Rochdale Team News:

Rochdale are without Scott Wiseman due to a hernia operation earlier in the week while Kallum Higginbottham is currently nursing a foot injury and will definately be out. Gary Jones is still not match fit but could return against Luton next week.

Player to watch: Chris Dagnall

Chris Dagnall has lead the line superbly in the past couple of games and will look to continue in the same manner against Darlington. A goal threat, trickery, pace, quick thinking. Darlington will surely have their work cut out to prevent Dagnall from having a telling impact in the game.

Darlington Team News:

Darlington will be without striking duo Liam Hatch and Danny Carlton while young forward Josh Gray remains on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.

Player to watch: Pawel Abbott

Pawel Abbott. On his day he is almost unplayable in this league. ‘On his day’ is what Darlington fans fail to see enough of though. One thing is for sure Dale will be hoping he isn’t ‘On his day’ because if he is he poses a major goal threat.

Match Facts & Stats

We all remember what happened the last time these two met don’t we. A wemble place was booked on that day, only to be defeated in the final at Stockport. Earlier in the season it was Adam Rundle and Adam Le Fondre who became the heroes clinchin a 2-1 victory. Ricky Ravenhill was subsequently sent off the game for a rash challenge for the home side.

Ref Watch:

The Referee will be Mr Andy D’urso with assitants, M A Naylor and J Waugh.

Match Prediction:

It may seem biased but i can only see a dale win from this one. After goin through a sticky patch they seem to have recovered nicely with two excellent performances and given Darlingtons current financial state and injurys which they face they will face an uphill battle. 2-0 to the Dale

Next Fixtures:

Rochdale travel to Luton Town on the 25th April.