Preview: Rochdale v Fleetwood Town

18 January 2019

Fleetwood Town make the trip to Rochdale on Saturday afternoon for the club's second away match

Saturday will be Fleetwood's 28^th league fixture of the season, and we have all you need to know ahead of the match at the Crown Oil Arena, Spotland.

Fixture: Rochdale v Fleetwood Town

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Saturday 19th January 2019

Kick-Off: 15:00

Venue: Crown Oil Arena (Spotland), Willbutts Lane, Rochdale OL11 5DS

Referee/Officials: Geoff Eltringham (Referee), Paul Hodskinson, Robert Merchant and Joe Hull.

Rochdale

Last five results in all competitions: L L L L L

League Position: 19^th on 30 points

Club’s Top Scorer: Ian Henderson (14 in all competitions)

Rochdale are in a poor run of form as of late and haven’t won in their last five games which means they haven’t won a game since Boxing Day. Keith Hill’s men had a promising run in EFL Trophy come to an end last week at the hands of Man City’s under 21’s.

The trip of Fleetwood Town this week won’t make their struggles any easier. The Dale haven’t beaten Town in the league since 2016 and in this fixture last year, the Cod Army ran out 2-0 victors.

Ian Henderson (14 goals) and Bradden Inman (four) are the host’s main threats in front of goal, while Callum Camps will be looking to pull the strings in the heart of the midfield.

One to watch: Ian Henderson

Henderson came through the ranks at Norwich City where he made his debut for the Canaries in October 2002 where he played for 5 years before he moved to Northampton town after a brief loan spell at Rotherham United.

After another short spell at Northampton and Luton Town, Henderson moved to Ankaragucu in Turkey after a successful trial but only played two games for the club before moving back to England and signing for Colchester United. After three seasons at the club, the player moved to Rochdale on a free transfer.

Since signing for Rochdale in 2013, Henderson has finished every season in double figures for goals. Last season he was the Dale’s top scorer where he managed to rack up 20 goals, a tally that he’s almost surpassed already this season.

Fleetwood Town

Last five results in all competitions: D L D L W

League Position: 10^th on 35 points

Club’s Top Scorer: Paddy Madden (15 in all competitions)

Fleetwood Town will be hoping to keep their unbeaten league form for 2019 going when they head to Rochdale. The Cod Army did lose a two-goal lead in their last game against Oxford United but will be hoping for a repeat of last seasons result away at Spotland, where they won 2-0.

There was one transfer this week at Highbury with Harvey Saunders signing for the club from Darlington where he will return on loan to the end of the season. Striker Ched Evans will serve the last of his two-game ban and will be unavailable for the tie.

Ashley Hunter will make his 150^th league appearance for Fleetwood if he features. The 23-year-old has scored 28 league goals and managed 20 assists for the club since signing from Ilkeston in 2015.

Joey Barton:

“There has been flashes of what we can do this week in training and for me we have to be patient in what we do. It’s difficult to change direction in how we get results because the individuals in our team have caused oppositions problems and for me it’s how we controlled games.

“A one nil win as a coach is the best result in the game, as it shows you have the capability of controlling the flow of the match. At this moment, we haven’t done it effectively enough.

“I get there’s been flamboyant results this season, but the core of the season is built on those scrappy one nil wins and that is the bread and butter.

“That’s how you build a promotion side, we aren’t there yet but we need to do more of what we are capable off. We are the best side in the league when it comes to first half performances, but in the second half we aren’t the best so that’s something we will work on that because we have many ideas, but football isn’t always about science.”

Ticket information

See the ticket prices for the Rochdale trip below:

Adults - £22

Seniors (65+) - £16

Young person (21 & under) - £16

Juniors (16 & under) - £5

Travel Information:

Coaches will be departing from Highbury Stadium at 11am and 12pm on the day of the match. It will cost just £5 for Onward Card holders, and £10 for non Onward Card holders.

To get tickets for the game, or to book travel, visit the ticket office or call 01253 775080 now. You can also buy tickets online here!

Betting

Rochdale edge the betting ahead of the Sky Bet League One clash. Fleetwood are 21/10 to win the game and beat Dale away for the second time in as many seasons.

If you fancy a Rochdale to win their first game in five are 5/4, with the odds of a draw are 11/5.

Fleetwood have had both teams to score three times in their last five games whilst Rochdale have only had this happen twice. In the reverse fixture earlier in the season both teams scored. If you fancy that to happen again it is 8/11.

In this fixture last season, the Cod Army won 2-0 and the correct score betting for Town to win 1-0, 2-1, or 2-0 is 3/1. If Fleetwood win by any of those three scores you win.

To find more odds on Sky Bet please click here. Please bet and gamble responsibly.

Match Reports

Report: Ten man Town dig deep to earn point at Rochdale

19 January 2019

Ten man Fleetwood Town dug in to grind out a point at Rochdale, as both sides played out a 1-1 draw.

The Cod Army took the lead towards the end of the first half courtesy of a glancing header from this season’s top goal scorer Paddy Madden.

The game changed ten minutes after the break. Lewie Coyle was sent off after the break for a tackle on Joe Rafferty. A harsh decision which is certain to be appealed by the club.

Rochdale took advantage of the extra man, with Ian Henderson nodding home from close range with 15 minutes to play.

It was a scrappy opening five minutes to the match, both Rochdale and Fleetwood struggling to get the ball down on the slippery surface at Spotland, but you could see that the two wanted to get the ball on the deck, and get on the front foot.

Ash Eastham took a knock to the face from Dale striker Calvin Andrew, but the vice-captain was cleaned up and sent back out alongside his skipper, Craig Morgan.

Town played a short free-kick inside their own half, and after a neat one two between Ross Wallace and Coyle, the full back broke forward. The ball found Madden inside the penalty area, with the Irishman then laying it off to Jason Holt – whose shot on goal was deflected away for a corner.

Keith Hill’s side thought they had taken the lead moments later. Matthew Done worked the ball well on the left, pulled it back to Andrew who shot, and with the rebound coming back to Henderson, you’d expect the striker to hit the target, in fact his effort went well wide of Alex Cairns’ goal.

Joey Barton’s side once again found space down the right hand side after superb movement from the front three. This time Madden found Ashley Nadesan in between the full-back, and with his well cushioned pass, he was able to find Wes Burns, who somehow skied his effort from close range. How didn’t that go in!

Town started to grow in the match and with their chances in front of goal, and this time after patient build-up play, Coyle drifted in on his left foot to strike one at goal. This time Josh Lillis got down to make a comfortable save.

The man on-loan from Leeds United thought he had his first goal of the season with a lovely curling effort from outside the box. From our angle it looked like it was going well wide, but it hit the post with Lillis scrambling across his goal line. Surely it was only a matter of time before the Cod Army found the back of the net!

Madden scored the opening goal of the match and his 16^th of the season with a well timed glancing header from Ross Wallace’s in swinging cross. A goal that Town thoroughly deserved for their attacking play in the first half.

Rochdale came out in the second half and brought on 16-year-old Luke Matheson for Done, a substitution that seemed to please a few in the stands. The young right back did get a chance from 20-yards out, but his half volley went well over the bar.

Coyle saw red after what was a strong but fair challenge on Rafferty. The referee took his time with his decision which looked to anger the home dugout.

With Fleetwood down to ten men, Rochdale picked up the tempo and after a great run down the left flank, Rory Holden got on the end of Hamilton pass, only to see his first time strike go narrowly wide of the post. 60 seconds later, Hamilton then worked the ball well onto his left foot, and for the consecutive time, the ball sailed wide.

Cross after cross! That was the instructions from the Dale dugout and it paid off when Henderson – who hadn’t been involved much until the goal – found the back of the net from a Dooley cross on the right hand side. The ball was weighted perfectly for the forward, with Cairns left with no chance between the sticks.

Cairns saved Town with under ten minutes to go with a fingertip touch on the ball from Henderson’s shot. The Englishman drifted in off the left and went away looking to celebrate with the home fans behind the goal, but as said previously, Cairns denied him!

Rochdale XI: Lillis (GK), Rafferty, McNulty, Ebanks-Landell, Dooley (Inman 90’), Andrew, Camps, Done (Matheson 46’), Holden, Hamilton, Henderson ©.

Subs not used: Delaney, Williams, Wilbraham, Norman, Adshead.

Town XI: Cairns (GK), Coyle, Holt, Eastham, Burns, Madden (Hunter 90’), Morgan ©, R. Wallace (Biggins 65’), Nadesan (Sheron 57’), Husband, J. Wallace.

Subs not used: Jones (GK), McAleny, Hill, Rydel.

Attendance: 2,713 (205 away)

Ticket News

Join the Cod Army at Rochdale

15 January 2019

Tickets and coach travel remain on sale for Fleetwood Town's trip to Rochdale on Saturday.

Joey Barton's side remain unbeaten in league action in 2019, and make the journey to the Crown Oil Arena to take on Keith Hill's side in a crucial Sky Bet League One match.

The Cod Army will be situated in the Willbutts Lane Stand at Spotland, with ticket prices as follows:

Adults - £22

Seniors (65+) - £16

Young person (21 & under) - £16

Juniors (16 & under) - £5

Travel Information

Coaches will be departing from Highbury Stadium at 11am and 12pm on the day of the match. It will cost just £5 for Onward Card holders, and £10 for non Onward Card holders.

For any further information on the match, or to book tickets or travel, visit the ticket office or call 01253 775080 now.

Fleetwood Town's Official Supporters Travel Partner are Redline Travel.

Ticket News

Fleetwood Town

Standings

Preview: Rochdale v Fleetwood Town

Rochdale

One to watch: Ian Henderson

Fleetwood Town

Joey Barton:

Ticket information

Travel Information:

Betting

Report: Ten man Town dig deep to earn point at Rochdale

Join the Cod Army at Rochdale

Ticket and travel now on sale for Rochdale away