League 1: AFC Rochdale- Southend United

 

I previewed Rochdale's trip to Walsall last midweek, highlighting their dire situation, but their belief in playing the beautiful game the right way and that they were better than the league table suggested ..........

These two clubs are quite similar in that both try to play good football and are of a similar size, with smallish squads and a limited playing budget. However, the hosts are mid table and safe from relegation fears. Dale are bottom of League 1, 12 points from safety albeit with 4-5 games in hand "courtesy" of the recent weather, a poor playing surface (which has now been relaid) and a great FA Cup run and if you saw their two games v Tottenham you know what lower league watchers have always been aware of, and that is that Dale and head coach Keith Hill always play football, a very good passing game that is pleasing on the eye regardless of score , or situation. It is to be applauded and I hope they get out of trouble, but it will take a super human effort, with 16 games to play inside 60 days, but that will be easier sooner rather than later especially after a six day break, which will soon be a rarity. Walsall were one of the few teams in the lower leagues who played last weekend, so have had less time to prepare.

Dale assistant coach Brian Barry-Murphy spoke about how his team immediately started thinking about the league after the loss at Wembley and then this, when their trip to Plymouth was called off, allowing them to fit in three full training sessions in preparation for this, the Saddlers probably just a light run through yesterday..........."Once the Spurs game finished, our focus was straight back on the next game, which was Plymouth, and that was reinforced by the manager in the dressing room at Wembley, so the lads were tuned into Plymouth from Wednesday night onwards. “When that was postponed on Friday morning, we started our preparations for Walsall, and trained as normal on Friday and Saturday for the match, so the lads are ready for the game and we’re fully prepared. "It’s one we’re looking forward to and we can’t for Tuesday night.”

Players feel recent performances in the league were deserving of more points and BBM added:“We’ve been in good form performance wise over a period of time, but results haven’t reflected that, which, at the end of the day, is all that matters. "The lads are well aware of that, so if we can play as well as we know we can do, then we’re more than capable of getting a result. "

Their last league game was a 1-0 loss at title favourites Wigan Athletic where the local Wigan newspaper said "Dale were left to rue several missed chances - namely from skipper Ian Henderson - as they left with nothing." Henderson had three golden opportunities, two which were easier to score than miss and he is normally reliable with 15 goals in all comps this season, 19 last and has scored on his last two visits to Walsall.
 

Huge, huge game for Rochdale, they have won on their last two visits here and by a combined 5-0, keeping a clean sheet in 4 of 5 trips to the Bescot.
 

Dale won that 3-0 and then followed up at the weekend taking another three points from a trip to highflying Rotherham United who were unbeaten in 14 games, a fantastic result and performance with the win fully deserved, they are now "just" 7 points from safety and still have 3-4 games in hand on almost everyone. As I said above, there is every chance that this most gruelling of schedules will catch up with them eventually, so time to continue making hay now and you cannot ask more at this stage of the season than to play a mid table side and Southend arrive on the back of two home games wheer they have failed to score, including a 3-0 loss to that same Walsall side 10 days ago.

Chris Powell (pictured) who has recently taken over at United oversaw an immediate improvement but a slight dip last week and I suspect he will be building already for a push next season and as a Southend legend he will be given time to get this right and we should keep an eye on them with a view to that, but his team look good opposition for Dale today. Talking of legends, saw that Powell appointed a former Brentford one to his backroom staff, Roger Cross, who turns 70 this year (say it ain't so !) who was, if not the first footballer to wear white boots, the first to do so in the lower leagues.......talk about drawing a target on your back ! But I digress and have to turn back from memory lane and my school days !" Rochdale to make it 3/3.