Guest writer Rob Ashworth (tramp_10) gives us a preview on tomorrow's game against Wycombe.

“Today will be the day we turn our home form around….” 

At least that’s what I know most Rochdale fans have been saying, wait no, praying to themselves for months now before each home game. 

Let’s be honest, if we even want to start dreaming of the ‘P’ word then Saturday has to be the day that Rochdale AFC start performing at home in the league. It’s not exactly going to be a walk in the park though, with The Dale going up against fellow playoff contenders Wycombe Wanderers at Spotland. 

After a stern telling off from his assistant manager Dave Flitcroft, manager Keith Hill has stopped describing our games as ‘Cup Finals’ and now looks upon them as opportunities. 

“We have got 16 opportunities and the next one is Wycombe. They are a good side and again they are not over achieving but we are. They are in a position that every Wycombe supporter would expect them to be in. For me on any given first day of the season they should be guaranteed a Play off place. We have got to work our socks off and we have got to maintain our drive, focus, energies, endeavour and quality throughout the course of the whole season just to compete” 

Rochdale go into tomorrows game on the back of a last minute win at Bradford courtesy of an Adam Le Fondre goal. That goal put an end to the mini ‘bump in the road’ which up until then, was a winless February with previous defeats to Peterborough, Lincoln and Hereford. 

Wycombe Wanderers month so far has consisted of a loss against Mansfield, a draw at neighbours Bury and last weeks win over another of our playoff rivals Rotherham.  

Team News 

First of all, after breaking his finger, Sammy Russell won’t feature for the dale for 4-6 weeks which means James Spencer will keep his place in goal for the foreseeable future. Subsequently young keeper Lloyd Rigby should be recalled from his loan from Conference North side Vauxhall Motors. 

Another player that will not feature at all for Rochdale this weekend will be January signing Lee Thorpe after collecting his 5^th yellow card of the season last week at Bradford. Nathan Stanton is also still suspended following his further punishment from the FA after his sending off against MK Dons.

A player who Dale fans hope will start tomorrow is Ben Muirhead. The right winger hasn’t really figured too much this season for Rochdale. But Muirhead started in last weeks victory away at his former club Bradford and from what my sources tells me, he put in a good performance. 

As for Wycombe, Scott Shearer is still out with a broken ankle, as well as Will Antwi and Stefan Oakes being out.  

One player who did not figure against Rochdale back in our victory at Adams Park was January signing Neil Lennon. The ex Leicester, Celtic and Nottm Forest midfielder has played in all three games this month after signing on deadline day in January and should be set to start the game tomorrow. 

Past Meetings 

Tomorrow will see Rochdale play Wycombe in the league for the 10^th time. Wycombe just edge out Rochdale on the head to head leading 3-2 in terms of wins with both teams drawing 4 times. 

The last meeting between the two clubs came back in January ending in a 90^th minute Rochdale win courtesy of a penalty despatched by left back Tom Kennedy. The match was also remembered for a great cameo for then out of favour winger Ben Muirhead. 

Rochdales only other win against Wycombe came again at Adams Park back in the 2004/05 season winning 3-0 thanks to goals from Grant Holt, Gary Jones and Leighton McGivern. 

Overall 

Well it’s crunch time. We can’t afford to lose and start falling away from the playoffs despite having games in hand, and to quote somebody on the message board: “games in hand don’t mean points on the board”  or something along those lines anyway. 

So let’s get our home form on the go and get behind each and every one of our players tomorrow regardless of who is playing for our beloved club. 

I for one am looking forward to this game, not just because it’s my first game in a while because of being at University, but because it is a massive game and it’s enough to get any Rochdale fan buzzing come Saturday.  

So come on Keith & Dave, give all of us passionate Rochdale fans something to jump up and down about this Saturday at Spotland. Please? 

“There is no fear home or away…” – Keith Hill.

Photo: Action Images

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