Preview | Fleetwood Town (A)

17 August 2018

Fleetwood Town v Rochdale | Highbury Stadium, Sky Bet League One, Saturday 18th August 2018, 3pm Kick-Off

Hill Ahead Of Fleetwood Town

17 August 2018

It is back to league action this weekend, as Rochdale make the trip to the Fylde coast face Fleetwood Town.

Both sides were victorious in the Carabao Cup during the week. Ollie Rathbone’s brace gave Dale a 2-0 win at Grimsby Town, while the Cod Army overcame Crewe Alexandra on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Joey Barton's men have picked up three points from their opening two games, following up an opening day defeat at home to AFC Wimbledon with a 2-0 win at Oxford United.

PRE-MATCH INTERVIEW

Keith Hill believes his squad of players are very close to being a very good side, which is why he’s always demanding the best from his players.

Read the Gaffer's pre-match thoughts HERE.

OPPOSITION VIEW

Fleetwood boss Joey Barton has also been on media duties ahead of the match.

“It will be another really tough game because Rochdale are a good side, and they have had a decent start to the campaign by beating Burton away from home,” said Barton.

Click HERE to read more from Barton on Fleetwood's official website.

ADMISSION DETAILS

Supporters who didn’t purchase in advance from the RAFC Ticket Office can still pay on the day at Highbury Stadium. Fans MUST go to any of the ticket offices at the ground to purchase a ticket before heading to the turnstiles.

Click HERE for admission prices.

HIGHBURY STADIUM

For a complete guide to Highbury Stadium, visit Fleetwood’s website by clicking HERE.

Full address | Highbury Stadium, Park Avenue, Fleetwood, Lancashire, FY7 6TX.

REF WATCH

Referee | Dean Whitestone

Assistant Referees | Paul Newhouse & Paul Graham

Fourth Official | Richard Woodward

HEAD TO HEAD

Fleetwood	Draws	Dale
4	6	3

Club News

Flashback | Fleetwood Town 0-3 Dale

17 August 2018

FLASHBACK

Dale have visited Highbury Stadium six times, winning once, losing once and drawing four times.

That win came on the first visit in April 2013, when Dale ran out comfortable 3-0 winners.

Click HERE for the full flashback, including highlights.

MATCH ODDS

Sky Bet are offering odds of 19/10 for a Dale victory on Saturday.

Click HERE for the full betting 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 | Fleetwood Town 2-2 Dale

18 August 2018

Ian Henderson’s last gasp strike secured a 2-2 draw against Fleetwood Town at Highbury Stadium.

The hosts went ahead shortly before the half hour mark through Paddy Madden, before Henderson equalised from the spot after he had been brought down in the area.

Fleetwood were soon back in front after Ched Evans’ close range rebound, but Henderson struck again in the final minute of five added on to claim a point for Dale.

Keith Hill made two changes to the side that beat Grimsby Town 2-0 in the Carabao Cup in midweek, as Bradden Inman and Aaron Wilbraham returned to the starting line-up.

Dale started the game on top, having the majority of the play inside the opening 20 minutes, going close through an acrobatic Ian Henderson effort when he met a Joe Rafferty cross at the back post.

David Perkins headed an Inman free-kick goalwards, before Inman himself had a shot from inside the area blocked as it was goalbound, whilst Ched Evans saw a touch goalwards deflected over the crossbar by Ryan Delaney.

Fresh off scoring a brace in midweek, Ollie Rathbone must have thought he’d broke the deadlock when his sweetly struck shot from distance was superbly turned over the bar by home stopper Alex Cairns.

The hosts then took the lead against the run of play in the 27^th minute. Ashley Hunter’s whipped ball took a couple of touches on its way past Josh Lillis, with Madden claiming the final one.

Kgosi Ntlhe had a half-chance to equalise three minutes later when he met Wilbraham’s cross to the back post, but sent his header wide.

Hunter and Evans both fired efforts off target, whilst Callum Camps replaced Inman shortly before the break for Dale.

Four minutes after the restart and Dale were awarded a penalty, when Henderson was brought down as he tried to latch on to Rathbone’s through ball.

Henderson took the penalty himself and powered it straight down the middle to level matters.

However, parity only lasted six minutes as the home side retook the lead. Hunter’s run and shot at goal was parried by Lillis into the path of Evans, who converted from close range.

Fleetwood substitute Wes Burns flashed an effort just past the post, before Calvin Andrew, who had replaced Rathbone, saw a well struck first time effort held by Cairns.

Dale kept pushing in search of an equaliser, but time seemed to be running out, especially when Wilbraham saw an effort at goal turned behind for a corner.

However, in the final minute of five added on, the equaliser came from skipper Henderson.

David Perkins clipped a ball back into the area from the resulting corner, which Andrew headed across goal. The ball fell kindly for Henderson who smashed home clinically beyond Cairns, in front of the jubilant travelling Dale supporters, to claim a share of the spoils.

Rochdale AFC

Standings

Preview | Fleetwood Town (A)

Hill Ahead Of Fleetwood Town

Flashback | Fleetwood Town 0-3 Dale

Report | Fleetwood Town 2-2 Dale