So, the three match winning streak came to a very abrupt end away at Oxford United but Dale return to Spotland this week to take on Bristol Rovers.

Date: Saturday 2nd November 2019
Kick-off: 3pm
Venue: Crown Oil Arena
________________________________________________________________________
THE DALE:
_________
I’d have taken a point before Saturday’s game but didn’t expect to get any and that’s what happened. Dale went down 3-0 away at Oxford United and lost Aaron Wilbraham to a straight red card as well meaning he will face a suspension and be missing from the squad for this up-coming fixture. The red card, for me was harsh, but my opinion matters nowt compared to the official unfortunately.

Dale return to Spotland this week after two consecutive home wins over both Accrington and Milton Keynes.

While Ryan McLaughlin remains on the sidelines (I know, I was stunned too), along with McNulty, Magloire, Sanchez and Dooley. You can also add Aaron Wilbraham to the sidelines given his suspension for his red card and Ian Henderson’s fitness has a question mark next to it as well as he was unable to start the game against Oxford due to having picked up a knock against MK but hopefully, he will be fit to start the game. There was a bit of good news on the injury front in that Rekeil Pyke returned to the squad having been out for a few weeks.

Dale remain mid-table after Saturday’s defeat in 14th place on 19 points, 3 points and 4 places behind Saturday’s opponents Bristol Rovers and will be desperate to pick up points and show the weekends result was a blip.

A win would also make it an even more memorable day for this moderator who’s young lad is mascot on Saturday for the first time, nearly 30 years after I bottled the opportunity to be mascot when Dave Sutton was in charge!

________________________________________________________________________
THE OPPOSITION:
______________
Bristol Rovers have done well thus far this season and find themselves in the top half of the league in 10th on 22 points. That said, they are without a win in three games and became the first team to be beaten by Keith Hill’s Bolton Wanderers side last week.

The Gas could only draw at home to Portsmouth on Saturday and suffered two consecutive 2-0 defeats prior to that against Bolton and Donny Rovers.

It’s fair to say that Bristol Rovers would be struggling this season without Jonson Clarke-Harris. The 25 year old striker has been in scintillating for this season and has 8 goals in 12 appearances so far this season and has 19 goals in 28 games since join from Coventry City at the end of the January transfer window. They’ve been more reliant on his goals than we have Hendo’s!

Graham Coughlan is the man in charge of Bristol Rovers. The former Plymouth and Shrewsbury (among others) defender has been in charge since December in what is his first managerial role having taken over from former Rochdale loanee Darrell Clarke.

Rovers will be desperate to get back to winning ways this weekend and put an end to the mini winless run they find themselves on.

_________ _______________________________________________________________
FORM BOOK - LAST 5 GAMES:
________________________
Rochdale:
Oxford United (a) — LOSS
Milton Keynes (h) — WIN
Bolton Wanderers (a) - WIN
Accrington Stanley (h)- WIN
AFC Wimbledon (a) — LOSS

Bristol Rovers:
Portsmouth (h) — DRAW
Bolton Wanderers (h) — LOSS
Doncaster Rovers (a) — LOSS
Milton Keynes (h) — WIN
Rotherham United (h) - WIN

________________________________________________________________________
HEAD TO HEAD:
_____________
ROCHDALE - 13
DRAWS - 17
BRISTOL ROVERS — 6
22/04/19 Bristol Rovers 0-1 Rochdale League One
02/10/18 Rochdale 0-0 Bristol Rovers League One
13/02/18 Bristol Rovers 3-2 Rochdale League One
21/10/17 Rochdale 1-0 Bristol Rovers League One
04/02/17 Rochdale 0-0 Bristol Rovers League One

Photo: Action Images

Rochdale Polls