Preview | Solihull Moors (A)

3 October 2023

Solihull Moors vs Rochdale AFC | Vanarama National League, Tuesday 3rd October, The ARMCO Arena, 7.45pm Kick-Off

Dale are back on the road on Tuesday, travelling to Solihull Moors in Vanarama National League action.

Jimmy McNulty’s men occupy the final playoff spot in the league, following a 2-2 draw at home to Southend United on Saturday.

The Moors have enjoyed a fine start to the season and sit third in the table, remaining unbeaten with seven wins and six draws from their opening 13 matches.

ADMISSION DETAILS

Dale fans can pay on the day at Solihull. Click HERE for full ticket details.

BEAMBACK

If you can't make the trip, we are showing the match live in the Ratcliffe Bar at the Crown Oil Arena.

Click HERE for full details.

INTERVIEW

Speaking after Saturday's game against Southend, McNulty said there are plenty of positives to take into the trip to Solihull.

"It’s non-stop - it’s a real difficult run of fixtures," he commented. "It’s a lumpy schedule with a small squad. We have to do the best we can, with where we are, to manage the players’ minutes and training.

"We have to try and maintain any confidence and momentum, game by game. Once I shake off the disappointment of the scoreline today [Saturday], I think I’ll be quite pleased with where we are.

"It’s so clear to me where we are, what we need, how we need it. We’re not a top team yet in this division, but there are great signs as a team."

THE OPPOSITION

Dale face new opposition for the seventh time in our first 14 games this weekend.

Solihull Moors were founded in 2007, following the merger of Moor Green and Solihull Borough.

They began in the National League North before earning promotion to the National League in 2016, where they have played since.

Moors finished 15th last season, but have reached the playoffs twice in the last five seasons.

Managed by former Coventry City and Oxford United player Andy Whing, who took over in the summer following three years at Banbury United, Moors are still unbeaten this season and sit in third spot in the table.

GROUND GUIDE

Dale fans can find a lot of key information via Solihull’s website HERE.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

This will be the first ever meeting between the two sides.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE

Jamie O'Connor will be the referee for Saturday’s game. It is his first full season at National League level, having been promoted midway through last season.

William Cavanagh and Callum Gough are assistant referees, with Jack Hall as fourth official.

FOLLOW THE ACTION

Those fans based in the UK & Ireland can listen to live match commentary, whilst overseas supporters can watch live via the National League TV platform. Click HERE for full details.

There will also be live updates via the club’s official twitter account.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Report | Solihull Moors 2-0 Dale

3 October 2023

Dale suffered a 2-0 defeat at Solihull Moors on Tuesday, as the hosts extended their unbeaten start to the season to 14 games.

Goals from Jack Stevens and Josh Kelly sealed the win for Moors, but Dale will rue a number of missed chances in the second period.

Jimmy McNulty made two changes from Saturday’s game, as Max Taylor and Ian Henderson started in place of George Nevett and Tyrese Sinclair, who were both on the bench.

Dale saw more of the ball in the opening stages without creating an opening and it was Louie Moulden who was forced into action first of the two goalkeepers, getting fingertips to a Josh Kelly free-kick from 20-yards to turn it over the bar.

The tall figure of Mark Beck glanced a header well wide for the hosts before Ryan East fired an effort narrowly off target from the edge of the area.

Kairo Mitchell went close for Dale just after the half hour mark, meeting Henderson’s low cross from the right following a quick counter, but on the stretch, he sent it narrowly over.

Dale finished the half strongly with a succession of corners, with a flicked effort goalward being blocked behind the closest they would come before the break.

However, less than four minutes after the restart, the hosts took the lead, when Stevens finished off a quick Moors move forward, sliding one into the bottom corner from 12 yards.

Dale created a couple of good opportunities in the spell after the goal. First, Henderson headed into the ground and produced a diving save from Tommy Simkin, following Jimmy Keohane’s looping cross after he had been found by a superb Adam Clayton pass.

Simkin made another save midway through the half, when he denied East who received a great through ball from Mitchell inside the area.

Moulden held a Stevens header before Henderson was again denied at the other end, seeing his side foot shot held after substitute Sinclair had done superbly to beat his man on the left.

Dale were made to pay for their missed changes in the 72^nd minute, when Kelly latched on to a ball behind the Dale defence and clip the ball over Moulden one-on-one.

Even after the second, McNulty’s men continued to create chances. Henderson saw a first time shot well blocked and both Mitchell and East had efforts blocked at source by the home defence.

Dale dominated the ball as the clock ticked down but couldn’t find a route to goal, leaving the Midlands with nothing.

Dale XI | Moulden, Oduroh (83’ Conway), Taylor (57’ Nevett), Ebanks-Landell, Keohane, Clayton, East, Gilmour (57’ Sinclair), Uchegbulam, Henderson, Mitchell.

Unused subs | Sinclair, Nevett, Afuye, Conway, Ferguson.

Standings