Preview | Coventry City (H)

8 February 2019

Rochdale v Coventry City | Crown Oil Arena, Sky Bet League One, Saturday 9th February 2019, 3pm Kick-Off

Dale are back at the Crown Oil Arena on Saturday, with Coventry City the visitors in Sky Bet League One.

Last weekend’s win at Walsall moved Keith Hill’s men up to 18th in the table, whilst the Sky Blues drew 1-1 at home to Gillingham, leaving them in 11th.

A Calvin Andrew header saw Dale run out 1-0 winners at the Ricoh Arena back in September.

PRE-MATCH INTERVIEW

Keith Hill says Saturday's game is the main event of the week and that his side know what they have to do in the situation they're in.

Click HERE to read his pre-match thoughts, or HERE to watch on iFollow.

OPPOSITION VIEW

“Performances have been pretty good, but results put a down on the performances to a degree and we have to get back to winning ways and maintain our performance levels.”

Read what Coventry boss Mark Robins had to say ahead of the game HERE.

TEAM NEWS

Hill brought in experienced goalkeeper Andy Lonergan on an emergency loan deal during the week, after Josh Lillis suffered an injury in last weekend’s win at Walsall. Click HERE for the full story.

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 Coventry City 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!

PRE-MATCH

Following Joe Thompson’s retirement this week, there will be a special presentation to Joe on the pitch shortly before kick-off. We urge all fans to be inside the Crown Oil Arena to give him the reception he deserves!

There’s a FREE junior event in the Carlsberg Lounge before kick-off. It's our special Valentines Day event! Click HERE for full details.

Don't forget to give our mascots a warm reception! Click HERE to view our preview of what the Community Trust have on.

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

FOODBANK DONATIONS

The Rochdale Foodbank are our Charity Match Ball sponsors on Saturday. We are asking supporters to drop off food donations before the game at two points – the Dale Bar and the RAFC Club Shop.

Click HERE for full details on Rochdale Foodbank and what items they are currently short of.

REF WATCH

Referee | Paul Marsden

Assistant Referees | Kevin Mulraine & David Avent

Fourth Official | Mark Jones

HEAD TO HEAD

Dale	Draws	Coventry City
8	4	2

MATCH ODDS

Sky Bet are offering odds of 6/4 for a Dale win on Saturday.

Click HERE for the full betting preview.

FLASHBACK

An Ian Henderson brace secured all three points for Dale when Coventry City last visited the Crown Oil Arena.

Click HERE for a full flashback, including highlights.

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

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

The front cover is dedicated to Joe Thompson, who announced his retirement from football earlier this week.

Purchase from the Club Shop and around the ground on matchday for just £3. Click HERE to read 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 2.45pm.

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 0-1 Coventry City

9 February 2019

Dale suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of playoff chasing Coventry City at the Crown Oil Arena.

Jordy Hiwula’s goal midway through the second-half secured all three points for the Sky Blues, along with a fine save from goalkeeper David Stockdale to deny Ian Henderson late on.

There were two changes from last weekend’s win at Walsall. Andy Lonergan, signed during the week on an emergency loan deal from Middlesbrough, came in for the injured Josh Lillis. Zach Clough made his return debut, replacing Rory Holden.

The opening half hour saw very little by way of chances of created for either side, as both teams battled to gain a hold of the game.

There were shouts of a penalty for Dale, when Clough’s cross from the right struck the arm of Brandon Mason, but the officials gave nothing.

Good blocks from Jim McNulty and Callum Camps denied Luke Thomas and Tom Bayliss from distance, whilst Stephen Dooley saw an effort blocked behind at the other end.

Dooley provided an excellent free-kick delivery for Ryan Delaney, who nodded a powerful header narrowly wide, before Jordy Hiwula headed a Thomas cross wide for the visitors.

Hiwula then latched on to a clever chipped ball from Liam Kelly, but struck his volley into the ground and straight at Lonergan.

Ian Henderson tested the handling of David Stockdale shortly before the break with a fierce shot from the edge of the area, before Kelly curled an effort wide from distance for the Sky Blues.

Bradden Inman replaced Clough at the break and he linked up with Dooley to create Dale’s first chance of the half.

They played a clever one-two with Inman seeing a shot blocked. The ball came to the edge of the area where Camps nodded to Andrew, who curled an effort over the crossbar.

Ethan Ebanks-Landell made a good block when Amadou Bakayako touched a Thomas cross goalwards, before Jordan Shipley and Kelly had efforts off target.

The visitors took the lead midway through the period when Hiwula latched on to a flick, drove into the area and dinked an effort beyond Lonergan.

Camps fired a half-volley over in response, before Stockdale produced a fine save to keep out Dale’s best chance with little over ten minutes remaining.

Inman played the ball into the feet of Andrew, who produced a superb flick to find Henderson. He cut back onto his right foot and attempted to place the ball into the far corner, but for the outstretched fingertip of the Coventry goalkeeper.

Dale stopper Lonergan then made a fine save of his own five minutes from time, getting down low to his left to get a strong hand to Thomas’ shot.

Dale pushed for an equaliser in the five minutes of time that were added, but couldn’t find a route to goal, as the visitors held on for all three points.

Standings