AFC Wimbledon vs Rochdale on 30 Sep 17 - Match Centre

AFC Wimbledon v Dale: Sky Bet League One, Saturday 30th September, 3pm Kick-Off

The squad set off from the Crown Oil Arena on Friday morning to make the long trip to Kingston upon Thames ahead of Saturday's League One fixture against AFC Wimbledon at Kingsmeadow.

Dale’s goalless draw at Blackpool on Tuesday night was the first time the Seasiders had dropped points at home this season, and extended Dale’s run of clean sheets to three in a row.

The Dons’ 1-0 defeat at Southend United in midweek left Neal Ardley’s side just above the relegation places.

PRE-MATCH

Keith Hill says Tuesday night's valuable point at Bloomfield Road "gives the players encouragement and belief" going into this weekend's fixture.

Hill has also said that there is competition for places as players return from injury and illness.

ADMISSION INFORMATION

Supporters have until 3pm on Friday 29^th September to purchase an advance ticket. Fans can also pay on the day at the Cherry Red Records Stadium. Prices are the same whether you buy on the day or in advance.

Click HERE for admission prices.

REF WATCH

Referee: Christopher Sarginson

Assistant Referees: Stuart Butler & Thomas Ramsey

Fourth Official: Anthony Da Costa

BETTING PREVIEW

Dale are 9/5 to pick up all three points at on Saturday.

Click HERE for full match odds.

FLASHBACK

Scott Hogan scored a 16-minute hat-trick at the Cherry Red Records Stadium back in February 2014, as Dale ran out 3-0 winners to put them within a point of the automatic promotion places.

After a goalless first half, Hogan headed home Matt Done’s cross in the 66^th minute, before rounding the goalkeeper 13 minutes later to double Dale’s lead.

Hogan left the best until last, lobbing Ross Worner from outside the area to complete his hat-trick eight minutes from time.

WE’VE GOT IT COVERED

Fans in the UK can listen to match audio commentary on iFollow. The programme will start at 2.55pm.

The match is also available to watch live for supporters overseas.

Click HERE to subscribe to iFollow.

To access commentary 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).

GETTING THERE

Leave the M25 at Junction 10 and take the A3 northbound into London. At the exit for New Malden/Worcester Park, turn off and take the left into Malden Road (A2043) towards Kingston Follow this to the next roundabout. Take the first exit into Kingston Road (A2043 still) and the stadium is one mile on the left.

The full address is AFC Wimbledon, The Cherry Red Records Stadium, Jack Goodchild Way, 422a Kingston Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, KT1 3PB.

Match Previews

Rochdale kept their fourth consecutive clean sheet in a goalless draw at AFC Wimbledon.

Donervon Daniels forced goalkeeper George Long into a fine save with a header in an even first half, whilst the hosts had the better of the second half without creating a clear cut chance, as the Dale defence held strong.

Keith Hill made one change to the side from midweek, as Calvin Andrew replaced Jordan Williams.

The opening period was a quiet affair lacking in chances for either side. Joe Bunney sent a free-kick into the legs of the AFC Wimbledon wall, shortly before Andy Barcham tested Josh Lillis for the first time with a curling effort which was comfortably held.

Andrew saw his looping header held easily by George Long, and Ollie Rathbone fired an effort behind from a tight angle.

Dale’s best chance came from a corner kick. Bunney’s outswinger was met by Donervon Daniels at the back post, whose header was denied by a low save from Long.

The final chance of the half fell to the hosts, when Cody McDonald headed Deji Oshilaja’s left wing cross over the bar.

The hosts started the second half brightly, with Lyle Taylor causing problems. His cross from the right was touched just beyond the far post by Barcham, before a clever back heel found Barry Fuller, whose left foot shot was comfortably held by Lillis.

Bradden Inman and Rathbone were placed by Matty Done and Steven Davies either side of the hour mark as Dale looked to swing the momentum in their favour.

Daniels saw a header from a corner kick deflected over, and from the resulting set-piece Andrew sent a header narrowly wide of the far post.

A nicely worked move saw Andrew knock down an MJ Williams cross into the path of Davies, whose turn and shot was well blocked ten yards out.

The home side had more of the play, but the Dale defence rebuffed everything that was thrown at them.

Substitute Harry Forrester’s corner was headed behind by Oshilaja, but that was the closest the hosts came to breaching the Dale defence, which has now gone four matches without conceding.

Rochdale AFC

Standings

Match Preview: AFC Wimbledon v Dale

Report: AFC Wimbledon 0-0 Dale