Dale take on Salford City in the Papa John’s Trophy on Tuesday night (7pm KO), knowing a win in 90 minutes will send them through as group winners.
All four teams in Northern Group D play their final group games tonight, with Accrington Stanley taking on Liverpool Under-21s at the slightly later time of 7.45pm.
The top two teams at the end of the night will advance to the knockout stages.
COMPETITION RULES
Should matches end in a draw after 90 minutes, a penalty shootout will take place to see who is awarded a bonus point.
If two or more Clubs are equal on points on completion of the Group Matches, the following criteria are applied in the order given to determine their rankings:
(A) goal difference;
(B) higher number of goals scored in the Group Matches;
(C) number of wins (after normal time, i.e. not the result of any drawn match followed by penalties);
(D) the record against each other in the Group Match, taking into account in order of precedence, points gained, goal difference, higher number of goals scored;
(E) if the Clubs still have an equal ranking after the application of
(A) to (D), by the drawing of lots.
View the full Papa John’s Trophy rules HERE.
PERMUTATIONS
We have covered all the different outcomes below in relation to Dale’s fate in the competition.
As Accrington play at a later time than us, we may not know that fate until 45-60 minutes after the match against Salford has finished.
Liverpool Under-21s will be eliminated after tonight's games, having lost their first two matches.
Dale win in 90 minutes – We progress as group winners with more points than Salford and Accrington. Stanley's result against Liverpool Under-21s will determine whether they or the Ammies finish as runners-up.
Draw after 90 minutes + win on penalties, Accrington fail to win in 90 minutes – Dale and Salford will be tied on points and goal difference, but we will progress as group winners, having scored more goals than Salford across the three group games. Salford will finish as runners-up.
Draw after 90 minutes + win on penalties, Accrington win in 90 minutes – Dale will progress as we would be guaranteed to finish above Salford. Whether that is as group winners or runners-up is dependent on the margin of Stanley’s victory against Liverpool Under-21s. If Stanley win by more than one goal, they will win the group. If they win by one, the group winners will be determined by goals scored. If this is tied, Stanley will finish above Dale, as both sides will have won one game in 90 minutes, and they picked up an extra point in the match between the two sides.
Draw after 90 minutes + loss on penalties, Accrington fail to win in 90 minutes – Dale will progress in second place, with Salford as group winners. We would finish above Accrington, even if they pick up two points, as our goal difference will be better than theirs.
Draw after 90 minutes + loss on penalties, Accrington win in 90 minutes – Dale will exit the competition, with Salford as group winners and Stanley runners-up.
Dale lose in 90 minutes, Accrington pick up two or more points - Dale will exit the competition, with Salford as group winners and Stanley runners-up.
Dale lose in 90 minutes, Accrington pick up one point – If this scenario arises, goal difference would be the determining factor. If Dale were to lose by more than one goal, we would be knocked out. If we lost by one, it would come down to goals scored. If this is tied, Dale would progress, having won one game in normal time compared to Stanley’s none.
Both Dale and Accrington lose in 90 minutes – Dale progress as runners-up.