Preview | Walsall (H)

24 August 2018

Rochdale v Walsall | Crown Oil Arena, Sky Bet League One, Saturday 25th August 2018, 3pm Kick-Off

The Gaffer Is Optimistic

24 August 2018

Dale are straight back in action at the Crown Oil Arena on Saturday with Walsall the visitors in Sky Bet League One.

The Saddlers have made an impressive start to the season, winning three and drawing their other league game, along with progressing to the second round of the Carabao Cup.

Connor Randall arrived at the Crown Oil Arena on loan from Premier League side Liverpool on Thursday, as Dale look to bounce back from Tuesday's defeat at home to Barnsley.

PRE-MATCH INTERVIEW

Keith Hill has said he is still very optimistic about the season ahead, despite a tough test so far.

Click HERE to watch the Gaffer’s full pre-match interview on iFollow, or watch a snippet below on our official YouTube channel.

You can also read what Hill had to say ahead of the game HERE.

OPPOSITION VIEW

Walsall boss Dean Keates has confirmed they have winger Zeli Ismail available for selection ahead of the game and commented on Dale's midweek defeat.

“They’ve been on the end of something the other night and it won’t have felt very nice for them,” he said. “They’ll be looking for a reaction and it’ll be a difficult game for us.”

Click HERE to read what Keates had to say on Walsall's official website.

ADMISSION DETAILS

It is pay on the day at the Crown Oil Arena on Saturday.

Supporters can pay through the turnstiles for the Pearl Street Stand, the Sandy Lane and the away stand. However, supporters wishing to sit in the Main Stand must purchase a ticket from the RAFC Ticket Office before going to the turnstiles.

Normal league prices apply for the fixture. They can be found HERE.

FIRST TIME VISITOR GUIDE

Are you a first-time visitor to the Crown Oil Arena? Click HERE for all of the information you may need in order to plan your visit and make the most of the matchday experience at Rochdale Football Club!

AWAY SUPPORTERS’ GUIDE

If you are a Barnsley fan making your way to the Crown Oil Arena for Saturday’s game, click HERE and have a read of our Visiting Supporters’ Guide which is packed full of useful information!

Club News

Junior Event | Handle Curious Critters Before Saturday's Match!

23 August 2018

PRE-MATCH

Youngsters can handle some curious critter friends and try bushtucker food at our Junior Event before Saturday’s game! Click HERE for full details.

Don't forget to give Saturday's mascots a warm reception, one of which is the daughter of a former Dale fans' favourite. Click HERE to find out who!

The Ratcliffe Bars, situated on the Crown Oil Arena car park, are open to both home and away supporters from midday.

REF WATCH

Referee | Graham Salisbury

Assistant Referees | Barry Cropp & Helen Byrne

Fourth Official | Anthony Moore

HEAD TO HEAD

Dale	Draws	Walsall
24	17	22

Club News

Flashback | Dale 4-0 Walsall

24 August 2018

FLASHBACK

Dale were 4-0 winners over Walsall at the Crown Oil Arena in November 2016, thanks to two goals in each half.

It was a memorable night for Ollie Rathbone, who scored his first ever professional goal to open the scoring.

Click HERE for the full flashback, including highlights.

MATCH ODDS

Sky Bet are offering odds of 23/20 for a Dale win on Saturday.

Click HERE for the full betting preview.

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

Rochdale AFC’s matchday programme – The Voice of Spotland – is back on Saturday.

The new features for the 2018/19 season return and there is a pull-out caricature poster of goalkeeper Josh Lillis inside!

Click HERE to read the full TVOS preview.

WE’VE GOT IT COVERED

Fans in the UK can listen to match audio commentary on iFollow, whilst overseas supporters can watch the match live! The programme will start at 2.45pm.

Click HERE to subscribe to iFollow.

To access commentary/watch live via your desktop, click on the 'iFollow' tab on our navigation bar. Hover over the 'More' tab and more selections will appear, which is where the 'iFollow' tab is located. Once you’ve clicked through, a link will appear on the left-hand side of the page for you to access the commentary. This will appear on the site around half an hour before kick-off.

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

Match Reports

Report | Dale 1-2 Walsall

25 August 2018

Callum Camps’ late goal wasn't enough to prevent Dale being beaten 2-1 by Walsall at the Crown Oil Arena.

Josh Ginnelly opened the scoring for the visitors shortly after the hour mark with a deflected effort, before Zeli Ismail doubled the lead in the second-half.

Camps responded immediately to get Dale back within one, but despite pressure in the final ten minutes, they couldn’t find the equaliser.

Keith Hill made five changes to the side that faced Barnsley in midweek, as Magnus Norman, Joe Rafferty, Camps, Ollie Rathbone and Aaron Wilbraham all started.

Dale dominated possession in a first-half that saw few clear-cut chances created by either side.

Matty Done had a cross punched away by Walsall goalkeeper Liam Roberts, before Camps fired over from 30-yards.

A clever chipped ball by Camps found the head of Ian Henderson, whose flick came off a Walsall defender and narrowly the wrong side of the post into the side netting.

Ginnelly saw a tame shot held by Dale stopper Norman shortly before he gave the visitors the lead. Norman’s pass out was picked up by Ginnelly, whose shot from range took a deflection off MJ Williams which took the ball away from Norman as it span into the bottom corner of his net.

Dale continued to see more of the ball after the goal but couldn’t find a way to goal. Jim McNulty headed wide from Rafferty’s free-kick, before Camps’ volley from outside the area deflected into the arms of Roberts.

Calvin Andrew replaced Rathbone ten minutes after the break and he nodded a Camps cross back across goal and narrowly past the far post.

He was involved again when he got a head to Rafferty’s corner kick, but MJ Williams could only fire over from the edge of the six-yard box as he latched onto it.

It was the visitors who grabbed the next goal through substitute Ismail, when he turned onto his left foot and fired home.

However, Dale responded immediately. Rafferty’s cross was headed against the foot of the post by Wilbraham, but fell kindly for Camps who turned home the rebound.

Camps then saw a curling effort beaten away by Roberts’ dive to his left after a drive forward through midfield, as Dale searched for an equaliser.

Walsall almost restored their two goal cushion when Andy Cook flashed an effort past the far post, before they were reduced to ten men when Ismail was sent-off for a second bookable offence with four minutes remaining.

Cook then saw a shot saved by the face of Dale stopper Norman, whilst Bradden Inman’s deflected shot from the edge of the area was held, as Dale just couldn’t force a late equaliser.

Standings

The Gaffer Is Optimistic

Junior Event | Handle Curious Critters Before Saturday's Match!

Flashback | Dale 4-0 Walsall