Preview | Scunthorpe United (H)

22 March 2019

Rochdale v Scunthorpe United | Crown Oil Arena, Sky Bet League One, Saturday 23rd March 2019, 3pm Kick-Off

Dale are back at the Crown Oil Arena this weekend, as Scunthorpe United visit in Sky Bet League One.

Last weekend's postponement of the trip to Accrington Stanley means it is ten days since Dale's last competitive game, a 0-0 draw with Oxford United.

Scunthorpe were beaten 2-0 at promotion chasing Portsmouth last weekend, and are six points ahead of Dale in 17th.

PRE-MATCH INTERVIEW

Brian Barry-Murphy was on pre-match press duties.

Click HERE to read what he had to say ahead of the game, or watch his full interview for HERE.

OPPOSITION VIEW

Scunthorpe United Manager Stuart McCall had this to say ahead of the fixture: "I was down there a few weeks ago when they got beat 4-3 by Wimbledon. They’ve conceded a few goals this season, but they also carry a threat and in Ian Henderson, they’ve got one of the top players in this division on form. It’s going to be a tough test, but we need to get out of our rut away from home and put in a better performance that’ll hopefully get us the three points."

Read more from McCall HERE.

TEAM NEWS

Brian Barry-Murphy has revealed that Zach Clough has joined Josh Lillis and Rekeil Pyke on the long-term absentee list.

Read BBM's injury update HERE.

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.

The Ticket Office is open until 7.30pm after the game for supporters who have been asked to relocate for the Sunderland match next month.

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 Scunthorpe United 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

There’s a FREE Mother’s Day junior event in the Carlsberg Lounge before kick-off. Click HERE for full details.

Don't forget to give our mascot 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.

REF WATCH

Referee | Eddie Ilderton

Assistant Referees | Anthony Moore & Richard Bartlett

Fourth Official | Graham Salisbury

HEAD TO HEAD

Dale	Draws	Scunthorpe United
34	27	40

MATCH ODDS

Sky Bet are offering odds of 7/5 for a Dale win on Saturday.

Click HERE for the full betting preview.

FLASHBACK

Goals from Joe Thompson, Ollie Rathbone and Calvin Andrew gave Dale a 3-2 win over Scunthorpe United back in December 2016.

Click HERE to watch highlights from the win.

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

Rochdale AFC’s matchday programme – The Voice of Spotland – is back on Saturday, with Kgosi Ntlhe as the cover star!

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.

Follow @officiallydale for Twitter updates.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Report | Dale 3-1 Scunthorpe United

23 March 2019

Rochdale made it seven points from three games under Brian Barry-Murphy with a 3-1 win over Scunthorpe United.

Aaron Wilbraham had put Dale ahead after 14 minutes, but Jordan Hallam equalised three minutes later for the visitors.

Kgosi Ntlhe netted his second in three games to restore the lead after the break, before Wilbraham doubled his tally nine minutes later, as Dale recorded a well-deserved victory.

There were three changes to the side from the draw with Oxford United ten days previously, with Ethan Ebanks-Landell, Matty Done and Aaron Wilbraham all returning to the starting eleven.

The visitors created the first chances of the game, with Funso Ojo turned a right-wing cross wide of the far post, before James Perch volleyed over from three-yards out when he should have scored.

Dale grew into the game and Wilbraham saw a header from a Ryan McLaughlin cross held by Scunthorpe goalkeeper Jak Alnwick, before the Dale striker broke the deadlock in the 14^th minute.

Done pressure Rory McArdle into a poor header back to his own goalkeeper and picked up on the loose ball to square for Wilbraham, who took a touch before firing a composed into the bottom corner.

However, the visitors were level within three minutes, when Joe Bunney’s loose pass to Jim McNulty was latched on to by Hallam, who finished clinically from just inside the area.

Perch curled an effort narrowly over from outside the area before Ebanks-Landell produced a fine last-ditch tackle to deny Hallam, who was one-on-one.

The defender had a header well held at the other end after Ollie Rathbone turned a corner back into a dangerous area, whilst he then fired wide from 20-yards.

Ian Henderson and Wilbraham sent headers off target either side of the half-time interval, but inside the opening six minutes of the second period Dale restored their lead.

A corner was cleared as far as Rathbone, who saw a shot from the edge of the area deflected into the path of Ntlhe, who swept home from the edge of the six-yard box.

And on the stroke of the hour, the lead was doubled, when Wilbraham headed home McLaughlin’s cross at the back post from close range for his second of the game.

Andy Lonergan prevented the visitors from halving the deficit almost immediately, parrying Harrison McGahey’s cross before getting up quickly to save Kyle Wooton’s shot with his legs.

Done saw a low effort save after a lung-busting run forward, before sending another effort over from 20-yards.

Henderson had the ball in the back of the net, dispatching home from Rathbone’s through ball, but he was flagged offside.

Man of the Match Wilbraham was replaced late on to a standing ovation, and Dale held on to the two-goal cushion to move to within a point of safety.

Standings