Rovers travel to the Crown Oil Arena to face Rochdale in Sky Bet League One this weekend.
Andy Butler’s side produced a brilliant comeback to draw 2-2 at Peterborough United in their last league outing, with goals from Fejiri Okenabirhie and Taylor Richards.
Rochdale’s recent form
Dale have lost just one of their past six league fixtures as they continue to battle bravely against the threat of relegation. That defeat came at Fleetwood Town on April 10, and they have certainly picked up their form since then.
Three home wins on the bounce against Swindon Town, Accrington Stanley and Blackpool followed, before battling to a 1-1 draw on the road at Crewe Alexandra. Their last league game saw them have to settle for a point at AFC Wimbledon after twice leading in the game.
The man in charge
Former Rochdale player Brian Barry-Murphy was appointed as the club’s new permanent manager in April 2019, taking over from Keith Hill.
Since his appointment, Barry-Murphy has taken charge of 107 Rochdale matches, winning 33, drawing 28 and losing 46, giving him an overall win percentage of 30.8%.
Ones to watch
Matthew Lund
After coming through the system at Stoke City, Lund enjoyed loan spells with Bristol Rovers and Southend United before joining Rochdale on a permanent deal in 2013. The midfielder went on to make more than 100 appearances during his time at the Crown Oil Arena, before joining Burton Albion.
After a year with Burton and then 18 months with Sky Bet League Two side Scunthorpe United, the 30-year-old returned for a second spell with Dale in January last year. He has added goals from midfield this season, with 12 to his name so far.
Jimmy Keohane
The Irish midfielder made his league debut while with Exeter back in 2011, and played more than 80 league games in four years with the Grecians. He then had a brief spell with Woking before spending three years in his native Ireland with Sligo Rovers and Cork City respectively.
He returned to English football to sign for Rochdale in 2019. He had never scored for the club prior to this season, but has now scored nine times including in the 3-3 draw with AFC Wimbledon last time out.
Jake Beesley
Sheffield-born Beesley started his career with professional career with Chesterfield in 2014, and spent a brief period on loan at non-league side Shaw Lane before a permanent switch to Salford in 2017. In his three years with them he found game time hard to come by, and spent time on loan with Bradford Park Avenue and Solihull Moors before making a permanent move to the latter.
He spent less than a year with Solihull before Rochdale paid an undisclosed fee for his services back in September. Beesley has struck seven times so far this season.
Last time out
Jon Taylor scored the only goal of the game to seal all three points for Rovers when the two sides last met in Sky Bet League One at the Keepmoat Stadium back in January.
More ahead of this match
