Rovers travel to league leaders Rochdale today as Robbie Savage’s men look to bounce back after Saturday’s defeat to York.
Rovers were two goals down at half-time, with a Kyle McAllister strike dragging Savage’s side back into contention. However, it wasn’t enough against the division’s most in-form team.
Today’s opposition are currently on an impressive run, winning their last five matches, three of which have come against sides in the top seven. Rovers suffered their first defeat of the season to the leaders back in October, a narrow 1–0 loss at The New Lawn.
Rochdale’s most recent win came against fellow promotion rivals Carlisle United, with a 41st-minute goal from Dan Moss enough to separate the two sides.
The Opposition: Rochdale
Nickname: The Dale
League Position: 1st
Currently sitting at the summit of the National League, Rochdale have enjoyed an excellent campaign so far. The Greater Manchester side won their first three league fixtures of the season before falling to defeat away at newly promoted Brackley Town in August.
They have only tasted defeat on four further occasions since, two of those coming against promotion rivals York City and play-off chasers Hartlepool and Halifax. Dale have responded impressively after setbacks, most notably going on a seven-game winning streak in the league from November until the end of the year.
Avoiding dropped points through draws has been a major strength for Jim McNulty’s side, with Rochdale drawing just once this season, against Woking. Defensive organisation has been key to their promotion push, with the league leaders conceding just 0.64 goals per game.
The Manager: Jimmy McNulty
Jimmy McNulty is the man currently in the dugout at Rochdale. He was appointed permanent manager in 2023, the same year the club were relegated from the Football League.
McNulty guided Dale to a respectable 11th-place finish in his first full season in charge, ending the campaign nine points outside the play-off places.
It was during the 2024/25 season that Rochdale emerged as serious promotion contenders, finishing fourth and setting up a play-off quarter-final tie against Southend United. That contest ended in a dramatic 4–3 defeat to the Essex side.
The 40-year-old will be looking to add another victory to an already impressive run of form.
Player to Watch: Ethan Ebanks-Landell
Captain Ethan Ebanks-Landell has been instrumental for Dale this season. The experienced 33-year-old has clocked up over 2,000 National League minutes, a key factor in the league’s best defensive record.
The Englishman boasts a wealth of EFL experience, with over 400 appearances at that level. He won promotion to the Championship with Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2014 and Sheffield United in 2017.
A disciplined presence at the back, Ebanks-Landell has picked up just four yellow cards in the league this season and has avoided any red cards.
Rovers’ front line will need to be at their very best if they are to carve out chances in Manchester this evening.
Head-to-Head:
17/08/2021 – Rochdale 1–2 Rovers (Matt 33’, Stevens 49’)
08/02/2022 – Rovers 2–1 Rochdale (Aitchison 73’, Stevens 86’)
24/08/2024 – Rochdale 0–0 Rovers
18/01/2025 – Rovers 1–0 Rochdale (Sercombe 70’)
04/10/2022 – Rovers 0–1 Rochdale (Gordon 44’)
