Can Imps end Rochdale's impressive away run?

By Nathan Jackson
February 7 2008

Lincoln City aim to become the first side since the first weekend of the season to win a home game against Rochdale. The game comes just over a month after City won at Rochdale's Spotland ground and just under 18 months after City thrashed Dale 7-1, but anyone who thinks that Rochdale will be a pushover are mistaken as they are pushing for a long overdue promotion.

Both sides come into the game in good form. City have won 4 of the last 6 whereas Rochdale have won 4 of the 5 games since the Imps won 2-0 at Spotland at the beginning of January. That includes wins at Wycombe, MK Dons and a 4-0 thrashing at Chester. However, they lost last Saturday as George Boyd's stunner opened the way for Peterborough to win 2-0 at Spotland.

Peterborough were infact the last team to secure a home win over Rochdale. Back on the first day of the season the Dale were easily beaten 3-0 at London Road, their record since then has seen them make a push for the Playoffs.

City's 7-1 win over Rochdale was the last time that City scored more than 2 goals in a League game (non-playoffs) until this season, a run of 9 and a half months. Ironically Rochdale came into that game on the back of an impressive away run, including a 5-0 win at Darlington just 2 weeks previously.

The Imps go into the game with no new injury worries, although Paul Green will be suspended for the Imps. That will be a huge blow for City as he has been arguably the player of the season so far. There are several different possibilities as to who will replace him. Lee Beevers could move to his natural right back position with Nat Brown coming in, however Brown has been ill recently. If Beevers does move to right back then Adie Moses will more than likely start in the centre back position

In midfield Lee Frecklington has declared himself fit but is unlikely to start. Kerr, Forrester and Dodds will more than likely end up in the midfield with either Jamie Hand or Dany N'Guessan filling up the other spot. Stallard and Wright should start up front.

Rochdale have a few names that City fans will know. Lee Thorpe recently joined the Dale from Brentford, whereas Lee Crooks was on trial with the Imps in the summer of 2006.

The Rochdale side that started against Peterborough was Russell, Ramsden, Stanton, McArdle, Kennedy, Higginbotham, Doolan, Jones, Perkins, Le Fondre and Thorpe.

City could move up to 17th with a win and above Accrington, who the Imps face on Tuesday night. Rochdale could go 6th with a win.