Preview | Doncaster Rovers (H)

9 August 2019

Rochdale v Doncaster Rovers | Crown Oil Arena, Sky Bet League One, Saturday 10th August 2019, 3pm Kick-Off

Dale return to the Crown Oil Arena in Sky Bet League One action on Saturday, welcoming Doncaster Rovers.

Brian Barry-Murphy’s men started the season in an impressive manner last weekend, with a 3-2 victory at newly promoted Tranmere Rovers.

Meanwhile, Doncaster, under new manager Darren Moore, drew 1-1 at home to Gillingham.

PRE-MATCH INTERVIEW

Brian Barry-Murphy hopes his players can produce a similar performance to that of last Saturday’s win at Tranmere Rovers.

Click HERE to read what he had to say, or HERE to watch his interview in full.

TEAM NEWS

Ollie Rathbone is touch and go for Saturday's game, having had his afternoon brought to an early halt last weekend following a robust challenge.

BBM is hopeful that Harrison Hopper will return to training next week, after being sidelined since pre-season.

Read the Boss' latest injury update > https://www.rochdaleafc.co.uk/news/2019/august/interview-bbm_predoncaster_100819/

OPPOSITION VIEW

“Rochdale are a good team, they are well rehearsed with the way they want to play and had a really good result at Tranmere on the opening day.”

Click HERE to watch a free interview with Rovers Boss Darren Moore on Doncaster’s official website.

ADMISSION DETAILS

Supporters have until midnight on Friday to purchase a ticket at our cheaper, advanced prices. Click HERE to purchase yours online now.

Prices will rise by £3 on matchday. Supporters can pay cash through the turnstiles in the Smith Metals Family Stand and Sandy Lane Stand. Fans wishing to sit in the Main Stand must purchase a ticket before heading to the turnstiles.

Click HERE to read our admission details for the 2019/20 season in full.

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 Doncaster Rovers 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

Junior fans, join us in Desmond’s Den this Saturday! We have a ‘Make Your Own Calendar’ junior event, plenty of fun games, and PlayStation 4s with the latest FIFA on them! Click HERE for full details on how to access.

The Ratcliffe Bars, situated on the Club's car park, open at midday. Away fans are welcome.

HALF-TIME

Lend your support to Seedfield Juniors and Littleborough Stripes, who are facing each other in the half-time challenge match on the Crown Oil Arena pitch.

Have a great day, everyone!

POST-MATCH

Please note that the Crown Oil Arena car park will be a NO MOVE ZONE for vehicles for ten minutes following the full-time whistle.

Click HERE for full details.

GRAB A GRAND

For just £1, you can be in with a chance of winning £1,000 at tomorrow's game!

There will be one guaranteed winner of £100, and the chance to win the Man of the Match's shirt.

Get your ticket from one of sellers around the ground or from the Club Shop.

Click HERE for full details.

REF WATCH

Referee | Trevor Kettle

Assistant Referees | Peter Gooch & Geoffrey Liddle

Fourth Official | Graeme Fyvie

MATCH ODDS

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

Don’t forget that Sky Bet customers who select Rochdale as their favourite team on their Sky Bet profile, for every losing bet made, 50% of the stake will be passed on to the Club!

So, if you are having a flutter ahead of Saturday's match, make sure you do it via Sky Bet and select Rochdale as your favourite team!

Click HERE for the full betting preview.

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

Rochdale AFC’s matchday programme – The Voice of Spotland – returns for the new season, packed with new features!

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

FLASHBACK

Who remembers our encounter against Doncaster in September 2017, when two goals in added time secured a 2-1 Dale victory? Relive the goals below via our YouTube channel.

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 1-1 Doncaster Rovers

10 August 2019

Dale were denied all three points after a 92^nd minute equaliser from Doncaster Rovers ensured a share of the spoils.

Aaron Morley’s first professional game had given Dale the lead midway through the second-half, but Kieran Sadlier’s header in added time cruelly denied Dale a second win from their two opening games.

There was one change from the side which beat Tranmere Rovers on the opening day. Ollie Rathbone, who suffered a heavy challenge in that game, missed out, with Aaron Morley replacing him.

An even opening to the half didn’t produce much by way of chances, other than Alfie May dragging a shot well wide for the visitors.

There was some excellent build-up play from Brian Barry-Murphy’s men, and in the final ten minutes of the half they created some excellent chances.

The closest of those came to Rekeil Pyke, who, after a Callum Camps flick-on, chested the ball down and volleyed an effort off the far post.

Jimmy Keohane then tested Doncaster goalkeeper Ian Lawlor after picking up on a Rhys Norrington-Davies cross, forcing the stopper into a save high at his near post.

Lawlor then denied Pyke, who was picked out by Morley’s slide-rule ball, tipping the on-loan Huddersfield Town man’s fierce striker over the bar.

A training ground routine corner kick followed, as Ian Henderson flicked a Norrington-Davies corner into the path of Morley. He connected well with his shot, but saw it blocked behind.

The final effort of the half fell Doncaster’s way, as Ben Whiteman’s dipping effort from distance was well held by Dale stopper Robert Sánchez.

Both goalkeepers made saves at the beginning of the second period, with Lawlor spilling a Norrington-Davies cross before collecting at the second attempt, before Sanchez made a save with his feet from Matty Blair.

A superb ball over the top from MJ Williams almost saw Henderson in on goal, but he was denied by Lawlor who came rushing out of his goal. Henderson picked up the loose ball and fed Dooley, who had his shot blocked behind.

Morley’s resulting corner was cleared as far as Norrington-Davies who laid the ball back off to Morley. His cross from the left evaded everybody, and nestled in the far corner.

In response, James Coppinger cushioned a volley wide from a central position, before Alfie May’s effort from distance was held by Sánchez.

The Dale goalkeeper then denied Sadlier with his feet from a one-on-one situation, with Eoghan O’Connell clearing well from danger.

However, there was nothing Sánchez could do in the 92^nd minute, when Sadlier headed home a corner kick into the very far top corner, to deny Dale all three points.

Standings