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The Return!
The Return!

Rochdale Preview

By: Richard Hubbert
Date: 05/12/2005

FOLLOWING a ten day break from league action, the Mariners are back at Blundell Park for a top of the table clash with Steve Parkin’s Rochdale side.

Home > 2005-2006 Season > Previews > Rochdale (h)


The Opposition

Overview
Like the Mariners, Rochdale are flying high in League Two at the moment, lying in 4th place and just a point away from Town. Following a 9th place finish last season, six points from a play off spot, boss Steve Parkin will be hoping to go one better this season and push for promotion. Parkin is now in his second spell with the club and is assisted by former Town legend Tony Ford.

Their Squad
One familiar face in the Rochdale ranks is ex-Town left back Tony Gallimore (top), who has been a regular fixture in Dale’s side. The highly rated Alan Goodall joins him in defence, while veteran Gareth Griffiths will be on the bench. There are likely to be two players by the name of Gary Jones on the pitch. The Mariners have their very own up front, and Rochdale’s will be marshalling their midfield. Like his manager, Jones is also in his second spell with the club having followed Parkin for a short stint with Barnsley before returning to Spotland. Blair Sturrock, son of Sheffield Wednesday boss Paul, arrived in the summer while they also have the experience of ex Preston midfielder Lee Cartwight. With 11 goals so far this term, ex Macclesfield man Rickie Lambert (left) will undoubtedly cause Town a few problems.

Key Player
Grant Holt One of the league’s top marksmen, Holt netted 24 times last season and so far this term has already bagged 15. This has led to speculation about a move in the January transfer window. Holt of course netted the last time the two sides met at Blundell Park, in September 2004.

Recent Form

TownRochdale
WOxford(a)3-2
LWycombe(a)1-3
WMacclesfield(h)3-1
LBristol R (FAC)(h)0-1
DNorthampton(a)0-0
Currently 2nd in League Two.
WShrewsbury(h)4-3
LTranmere (LDV)(a)2-3
DChester(h)2-2
WBristol R (a)2-1
LBrentford(h)1-2
Currently 4th in League Two.

Top Scorers

TownRochdale
Kalala5
Gary Jones5
Michael Reddy5
Holt15
Lambert11

Team News

TownRochdale

  • The Mariners have a full squad to chose from with Tom Newey returning from his one game ban and Rob Jones now recovered from his hernia operation.

  • Boss Russell Slade must decide between Newey and Gary Croft for a place at left back, while he may also opt to put Rob Jones back into the starting eleven at the expense of Simon Ramsden. Jones completed 75 minutes of a reserve game at Doncaster last week and Slade start him in an attempt to cope with the presence of Rochdale’s Rickie Lambert and Grant Holt.

  • Andy Parkinson has fully recovered from the knock he received in the win at Oxford, while Martin Gritton will recover from a hamstring strain in time to take a place on the bench.
  • Defender Warren Goodhind returns for Dale after being sidelined with a thigh strain since the start of November. He could come straight back into the starting eleven to replace Gary Brown who is serving a one game ban following his dismissal in their 4-3 win against Shrewsbury.

  • Former Oldham midfielder Ernie Cooksey has recovered from a back injury but is unlikely to be rushed back into the squad, with their game with Wycombe on Saturday a more realistic comeback date.
  • Probable Teams

    TownRochdale
    1Steve Mildenhall
    2John McDermott
    20Gary Croft
    6Justin Whittle
    12Rob Jones
    15Gary Cohen
    8Paul Bolland
    18Ciaran Toner
    11Andy Parkinson
    19Gary Jones
    9Michael Reddy
    1Matthew Gilks
    2Warren Goodhind
    3Tony Gallimore
    15Rory McArdle
    12Alan Goodall
    18Jamie Clarke
    11Gary Jones
    8 Neil Brisco
    19Blair Sturrock
    9Grant Holt
    17Rickie Lambert

    Subs

    TownRochdale
    3Tom Newey
    10Martin Gritton
    4Simon Ramsden
    23Nick Heggarty
    7JPK Kalala
    10Paul Tait
    7Lee Cartwright
    5Gareth Griffiths
    16Tommy Jaszczun
    14Scott Warner

    Head to Head

    In the past, the Mariners have had much the better time of it against Rochdale, recording 20 wins, with only 11 losses. However, Rochdale did the double over Town last season, and it wasn’t since 1978 that Town beat them at Blundell Park.

    P 37 W 20 D 6 L 11 F 67 A 48

    Rochdale Head-to-Head (8th on The Opposition Ladder)

    Last Meeting

    The Mariners last met Rochdale in a rearranged fixture towards the latter stages of last season. Previously the Mariners lost 1-0 at Blundell Park in September and Dale did the double of Town with a 2-0 win at Spotland. Rickie Lambert and Gary Jones scored their goals, with the Mariners coming close to sneaking a draw on a number of occasions before Jones netted in the final minute of the game.

    Grimsby Team: Williams ,McDermott (Soames ,74 ) ,Whittle ,Forbes ,Ramsden ,Crowe (Robert Jones ,45 ) ,Fleming ,Coldicott ,Parkinson ,Gritton ,Reddy (Pinault ,16 )
    Subs (not used): Crane,Hockless

    Rochdale Team: Gilks ,Evans (sent off 65),Heald (Gallimore ,19 ) ,Griffiths ,Goodall ,Warner (Clarke ,85 ) ,Lambert ,Jones ,Bertos ,Holt ,Tait
    Subs: (not used) Woodhall,Richardson

    Attendance: 2,312    Report

    Prediction

    An exciting 3-2 win for Town!

    3-2

    Recent Predictions

    GamePredictionScorePoints
    Oxford1-13-20
    Wycombe1-21-31
    Macclesfield1-13-10
    Bristol R2-01-21
    Northampton1-10-01
    Morecambe1-01-10
    Cheltenham1-14-00
    Wycombe2-20-10
    Shrewsbury2-00-00
    Notts Co1-04-01
    Reader's POMs

    Directions

    Click on the link for directions to Blundell Park (left).

    Admission Prices

    Click on the link for ticket prices to Blundell Park.




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