Assistant Manager Chris Beech says Dale are “not just here for the occasion” as the side prepare for the visit of Leeds United on Saturday.
“It’s a great game, it’s a great occasion for the Football Club, it’s a great game for the players and it’s fantastic for the supporters,” Beech told Dale Player. “It’s also great for the people who run the club in terms of finances, so all in all a good day is to be had.”
“But we’re not just here for the occasion,” continued Beech. “We want to try and put footprint within the FA Cup and within the game.
“We will go against a very strong Championship side, which is managed by a very good Manager. They have lots of individual players, and of course one red hot player who plays up front for them. Leeds will also want to progress in the same competition in front of the masses of support that they have in and around the ground.
“It will be great for our supporters to see that and go against that with us as we go against it as a team. We’re going to have to be concentrated, we’re going to have to be at full tilt, we’re going to have to be on the front foot in what we can control.”
Rochdale booked their place in the third round of the competition with a 2-1 win over Rotherham United and Beech has praised fans for their support on the day.
“It was fantastic from the supporters who travelled that day. I couldn’t believe the noise they made at the end of the game. It was a superb experience for everybody.
“We’ve got a home game this time and it’s a great opportunity to have that because we haven’t had one like this over the last few years.
“I’m looking forward to it, the players are, Keith is and it is another opportunity to show what we can do.”
The full interview with Chris Beech is available on Dale Player.