Preview | Dale v AFC Wimbledon

16 March 2018

Dale v AFC Wimbledon | Sky Bet League One, Crown Oil Arena, Saturday 17th March, 3pm Kick-Off

Dale are at the Crown Oil Arena for the second of three home games in a week, hosting AFC Wimbledon.

Tuesday night’s draw against Southend United made it seven points from nine, following the wins at Walsall and Rotherham United.

The Dons' win over Oxford United last weekend moved them three points clear of the relegation zone, with Dale eight points behind Saturday's opponents with three games in hand.

The two sides played out a goalless draw earlier in the season at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.

PRE-MATCH INTERVIEW

Keith Hill said he is pleased with a "productive week", and wants his players to bounce into the match pressure free.

Watch his pre-match interview HERE, or click HERE to read his thoughts.

ADMISSION INFORMATION

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

Tickets can be purchased in advance online HERE, or by phoning the RAFC Ticket Office on 0844 826 1907 (option 8) and collecting on the day.

Supporters wishing to sit in the Main Stand must purchase a ticket from the RAFC Ticket Office beforehand. All other areas can be accessed by paying cash through the turnstiles.

HEAD TO HEAD

Dale	Draws	AFC Wimbledon
2	2	3

REF WATCH

Referee: Scott Oldham

Assistant Referees: Geoffrey Liddle & Peter Gooch

Fourth Official: Nigel Smith

PRE-MATCH

Bring the kids along early to our Slime Party in the Carlsberg Lounge before the game! Youngsters can make their own slime to take home.

Click HERE for full details.

There will be a Prostate Cancer UK bucket collection at the Crown Oil Arena before the game, and they are looking for volunteers to help out! Click HERE for details.

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

POST-MATCH

Stick around after the game for our FREE post-match event – a Freddie Mercury tribute act in the Carlsberg Lounge!

Doors open straight after the full-time whistle, with both home and away supporters 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.

MATCH ODDS

Dale are at EVENS to take all three points against AFC Wimbledon in Sky Bet League One on Saturday.

Click HERE for the full betting preview.

TVOS PREVIEW

Andy Cannon is the cover star on Saturday’s matchday programme, The Voice Of Spotland.

The 76-page issue contains plenty to keep fans entertained and informed before, during and after the match.

Click HERE for the full 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 2.55pm.

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, and will go behind-the-scenes with our Instagram Story feature. Follow @officiallydale (Twitter and Instagram).

Match Previews

Match Reports

Report | Dale 1-1 AFC Wimbledon

17 March 2018

Dale were made to rue missed chances in a 1-1 draw with AFC Wimbledon at the Crown Oil Arena.

The visitors took a seventh minute lead through Deji Oshilaja, before Andy Cannon equalised in the 25^th minute via a deflected effort.

Dale had a host of chances both before and after the break, and Stephen Humphrys struck a post in the dying minutes, as they had to settle for a point.

Keith Hill named an unchanged starting eleven from the midweek draw with Southend United, but the visitors took a fortunate lead just seven minutes into the game.

Lyle Taylor’s free-kick hit the Dale wall and fell kindly into the path of Oshilaja, who turned home coolly across Josh Lillis.

The Dons were inches away from doubling their lead two minutes later, when Joe Pigott poked a right-wing cross just wide of the post.

However, Dale soon got themselves back in the game, and dominated the rest of the opening period.

Stephen Humphrys headed a Scott Wiseman cross wide, before getting a touch on an Ian Henderson cross which was easily collected by goalkeeper George Long.

A huge chance came in the 12^th minute, when Henderson was denied on the line. Matty Done’s shot was saved by Long as he ran back into his goal, falling for Henderson who saw his shot blocked on the line, before Cannon’s shot was turned round the post.

Ryan Delaney was the next to be denied on the line, when he saw his effort from Done’s cross saved by Long.

However, there was nothing Long could do about Dale’s equaliser. Good hold up play from Humphrys saw the ball fall for Cannon, whose left-foot shot was deflected and looped over Long and into the back of the net.

Humphrys headed over Bradden Inman’s corner and also Cannon’s whipped cross, whilst Henderson had another effort blocked on the line when Inman’s scuffed shot fell for him.

Dale continued to dominate after the break, as Inman had a shot held and Humphrys saw an effort from the edge of the area turned around the post.

From the resulting corner, Done’s touch and strike took a deflection wide of the near post, shortly before Henderson’s curling header from Camps’ clipped ball sailed just wide.

AFC Wimbledon substitute Harry Forrester diverted a Taylor cross over the crossbar, as Steven Davies and Mark Kitching replaced Inman and Cannon for Dale.

Davies was inches away from getting on Done’s touch across goal, before Humphrys’ header from Done’s cross was comfortable for the goalkeeper.

Humphrys then struck the woodwork with a curling free-kick, which cannoned off the outside of the post and away from danger, and proved to Dale’s last chance of a frustrating afternoon in front of goal.

Rochdale AFC

Standings

Preview | Dale v AFC Wimbledon

Report | Dale 1-1 AFC Wimbledon