Rochdale vs Bristol Rovers on 21 Oct 17 - Match Centre

Dale v Bristol Rovers: Sky Bet League One, Saturday 21st October, 3pm Kick-Off

Rochdale play their third game in a week on Saturday, when Bristol Rovers visit the Crown Oil Arena.

Darrell Clarke’s side sit 13^th in Sky Bet League One, having won six and lost eight of their opening 14 games of the season.

PRE-MATCH INTERVIEW

Manager Keith Hill and Calvin Andrew were on pre-match press duties ahead of the game.

You can read the Gaffer's thoughts on the Gas HERE, as well as how Dale's previous successes have set the bar for future successes HERE.

You can also read Andrew's thoughts on taking the positives from every game.

ADMISSION INFORMATION

Supporters can pay on the day on Saturday.

Don’t forget, the Main Stand is now operating an ALL TICKET RESERVED SEATING policy. Therefore, there will be no cash turnstiles in operation for the Main Stand. Tickets can be bought from the RAFC Ticket Office before going to the turnstiles.

Supporters can pay cash at the turnstiles in all other areas of the Crown Oil Arena on Saturday.

Tickets can also be bought in advance. Visit www.rafctickets.co.uk to purchase yours online, or pop into to the Ticket Office in person.

Click HERE for matchday admission prices.

REF WATCH

Referee: Tom Nield

Assistant Referees: Richard Wigglesworth & Anthony Moore

Fourth Official: Chris Isherwood

PRE-MATCH

Bring the kids along early to Saturday’s game – we’ve got a Halloween themed workshop in the Carlsberg Lounge for junior supporters!

Youngsters can make their own Halloween lantern in time for those spooky celebrations at the end of the month.

Click HERE for more details, including how to access the event.

The Ratcliffe Bars, situated on the Crown Oil Arena car park, open at 12pm on Saturday, with visiting supporters also welcome.

Click HERE for full details.

FIRST TIME VISITOR

Coming to the Crown Oil Arena for the first time? View our first-time visitor guide HERE.

FLASHBACK

Dale were 2-0 winners over Bristol Rovers at the Crown Oil Arena back in December 2013. Goals from Scott Hogan and Graham Cummins moved Dale to within a point of top of League Two.

Click HERE for a full flashback.

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

The Voice Of Spotland, Rochdale AFC's matchday programme, returns on Saturday.

M.J. Williams is the cover star, and there is a pull-out poster of the on-loan Liverpool man inside to collect!

TVOS will be on sale around the ground and at the Club Shop, priced at £3.

Click HERE for the full preview.

BETTING PREVIEW

Dale are favourites at 5/4 to record victory over Bristol Rovers.

Click HERE for full match odds.

WE’VE GOT IT COVERED

Fans in the UK can listen to match audio commentary on iFollow, whilst overseas fans can WATCH the match live! The programme will start at 7.40pm.

Click HERE to subscribe to iFollow.

We will be tweeting live updates from the match, and will go behind-the-scenes with our Instagram Story feature. Follow @officiallydale (Twitter and Instagram).

Match Previews

Matty Done’s first-half strike earned Rochdale a 1-0 victory over Bristol Rovers at the Crown Oil Arena.

He turned home Bradden Inman’s dinked effort from close range after seven minutes, in what proved to be the only goal of a tight contest.

Keith Hill stuck with the same starting eleven from midweek, and those players repaid that faith by starting very strongly, taking the lead after just seven minutes.

Ian Henderson, who signed a contract extension before the game, did well to ride a challenge in midfield before finding Inman. He dinked over the advancing ‘keeper, and although the effort appeared to be heading goalwards, Done turned home from a yard out to make sure.

Done was close to a second four minutes later, when he flicked Joe Rafferty’s low cross just wide of the far post.

Dale had started the opening 20 minutes on top, but the visitors enjoyed a spell of their own midway through the half. Liam Sercombe tested Josh Lillis from distance, with the Dale stopper holding on well to the fizzing effort.

Rory Gaffney volleyed a Tom Broadbent deep cross into the side netting, shortly before Ellis Harrison headed a right-wing cross well wide.

Sercombe tested Lillis again from long range, and the Gas came closest from Ollie Clarke’s scissor kick which dipped just over the crossbar.

Done was finding space in the Rovers area, this time turning Joe Bunney’s cross wide of the near post, whilst Henderson fired an effort well over after a knock down from Done.

Clarke and Lee Brown had efforts well off target for the visitors after the break, whilst Done’s dipping shot was well held at the near post for Dale.

Steven Davies and Jordan Williams replaced Calvin Andrew and Inman inside the final 20 minutes, but it was Bunney and Rafferty who combined to keep the visistors out with a quarter of an hour remaining.

A goalbound shot from close range hit the legs of Bunney, but still looked to be going in until Rafferty’s intervention on the line.

Done sent a curling effort wide, and Bunney saw a free-kick was distance well held, as the game entered its final stages.

Rovers rallied late on, but they couldn’t find a way through a stubborn Dale defence that held on to a well-earned three points.

Rochdale AFC

Standings

Preview: Dale v Bristol Rovers

Report: Dale 1-0 Bristol Rovers