Preview | Dale v Plymouth Argyle

24 April 2018

Rochdale v Plymouth Argyle | Tuesday 24th April, Sky Bet League One, Crown Oil Arena, 7.45pm Kick-Off

Dale are back at the Crown Oil Arena on Tuesday night for the penultimate home game of the season, as Plymouth Argyle are the visitors.

Saturday’s draw against Bradford City keeps Dale a point from safety, and a win on Tuesday would see Keith Hill’s men move out of the relegation zone.

The Pilgrims were bottom of the table when the sides met earlier in the season, in a 1-1 draw at Home Park.

They have been on a remarkable run since then, which sees them just three points off a playoff place but with a game in hand in sixth place Scunthorpe United.

PRE-MATCH INTERVIEW

Keith Hill has told iFollow that his side are in good form and good spirits ahead of the game.

Click HERE to read his pre-match thoughts.

OPPOSITION VIEW

Argyle boss Derek Adams said: “Rochdale are fighting for their lives. It’s going to be another difficult encounter. We have to do 100% better than we did today [against Northampton].”

Visit Plymouth’s website HERE to read Adams’ pre-match thoughts.

ADMISSION INFORMATION

This match is not ALL TICKET. Fans can pay on the night.

Supporters can pay cash through the turnstiles for the Pearl Street Stand, the Sandy Lane and the away end. 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.

REF WATCH

Referee: Darren Drysdale

Assistant Referees: Nik Barnard & Richard Wigglesworth

Fourth Official: Matthew Parry

HEAD TO HEAD

Dale	Draws	Plymouth
8	8	14

MATCH ODDS

Rochdale are at odds of 10/11 with Sky Bet to claim victory over Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday night.

Click HERE for the full betting preview.

PRE-MATCH

The Ratcliffe Bars, situated on the Crown Oil Arena car park, are open to both home and away supporters from 5pm. Full details can be found HERE.

FIRST TIME VISITOR

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

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 7.40pm.

Click HERE to subscribe to iFollow.

To access commentary/watch live via your desktop, go through our match centre. The match centre will be located on the home page of the main website (www.rochdaleafc.co.uk). 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. Follow @officiallydale (Twitter and Instagram).

Match Previews

Match Reports

Report | Dale 1-1 Plymouth Argyle

24 April 2018

Dale earned a point to move out of the relegation zone with a 1-1 draw at home to Plymouth Argyle.

After an entertaining first-half in which both sides created chances, Argyle broke the deadlock eight minutes after the break through a Joel Grant header.

Dale had the perfect response though, as Ryan Delaney equalised with a looping header just two minutes later, a goal which would eventually secure a share of the spoils.

Keith Hill made three changes to his starting eleven from the weekend’s draw with Bradford City. Scott Wiseman, Mark Kitching and Stephen Humphrys replaced Joe Rafferty, Jim McNulty and Joe Thompson.

The first-half was a fast-paced affair, with both sides creating a number of chances.

Kitching, Humphrys and Inman all sent efforts off target for Dale, whilst Argyle danger man Graham Carey sent an effort off target before having a free-kick beaten away by Josh Lillis.

Lillis then saved an effort from Antoni Sarcevic who had found his way into the area, shortly before Carey curled a superb effort off the far-post, with Sarcevic’s follow up held by Lillis.

Callum Camps drilled an effort into the arms of Plymouth stopper Remi Matthews, before a scramble in the Plymouth goalmouth on the stroke of half-time saw Ryan Delaney’s effort blocked away.

Rafferty and Matthew Gillam replaced Kitching and Humphrys at half-time, and Dale made a positive start, as Camps forced Matthews into a fine save with a poke goalwards from Wiseman’s cross.

Wiseman provided another good ball into the area two minutes later, which Andrew headed straight at Matthews.

However, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock against the run of play, when Grant nodded home from Ruben Lameiras’ hook back into the six-yard box.

Dale’s response to the setback was superb, and they were level within two minutes. Inman delivered another superb corner, from which Delaney sent a looping header in at the far post.

Substitute Gillam had a great chance to put Dale ahead just before the hour mark, when he brought down Wiseman’s cross superbly at the back post, but fired over on the turn.

Inman saw a shot beaten behind for a corner as Dale continued in the ascendency, but neither side could create a clear cut effort as the game became a much more even one.

Andrew fired well over for Dale after a great touch, and Grant and Lionel Ainsworth saw efforts wide for the visitors, before Carey fired a late contentious free-kick over the bar.

A valuable point for Dale which moves them out of the relegation zone, going into the final two games of the season.

Rochdale AFC

Standings

Preview | Dale v Plymouth Argyle

Report | Dale 1-1 Plymouth Argyle