Dale will meet a new referee on Saturday when John Busby takes charge of their League One game at Northampton.

The Oxford official is in his second season on the referees’ list, but this will be the first time he has refereed a Rochdale game.

His first league appointment in August 2016 was Mansfield v Cheltenham and since then he has refereed entirely in the two basement divisions, as well as at a number of games in all three knockout competitions.

Mr Busby previously visited Sixfields Stadium in October for The Cobblers’ 1-0 defeat of Blackpool, but despite his relatively close location to Northampton, that is the only time he has refereed them since joining the league list.

Last season he took charge of 36 games up and down the country, but he is on target to beat that total this term as Saturday will be his 32nd appointment of the current campaign.

John’s previous 31 matches produced 80 yellow cards and four red, two of which came in the opening fortnight of the season.

Photo: Action Images

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