Dale host Sutton United at the Crown Oil Arena for the final League 2 home game this season in what will be only the fourth meeting between the two sides.
When the sides met earlier in the season, Sutton United won the game narrowly 1-0. Will Randall was the scorer for Sutton as they claimed the three points back in November.
Dale have won one of the three previous encounters with Sutton United winning in the other meetings.
That victory came in the only meeting at the Crown Oil Arena so far.
Have a look at that game from 2021 below…
Saturday, 23rd October 2021 – Dale 3-2 Sutton United
Dale began the game on the front foot, applying lots of pressure on the Sutton defence. Abraham Odoh worked tirelessly inside the 18-yard box to keep a move alive before laying the ball off to Morley who fired wide first time.
Soon after, there was a superb save from Dean Bouzanis to deny Jake Beesley’s stooping header. The Sutton United goalkeeper got down to his right to pluck away the effort on the line as it looked set to nestle in the bottom corner.
Dale’s deserved opener came in the 23rd minute in brilliant fashion. Liam Kelly arrowed a diagonal ball over the defence into the path of Newby, who lifted the ball over the Bouzanis and into the back of the net.
Dale were in again soon after, though, and Newby saw his dangerous shot from the edge of the area deflected up and over the bar. Beesley then had an effort deflected wide before Eoghan O’Connell struck past the post from the edge of the 18-yard box.
In stoppage time, the Us were reduced to ten men when Richie Bennett was shown a straight red card for an apparent stamp on Beesley’s midriff.
Dale’s deserved second came in the 66th minute. Aaron Morley picked out Corey O'Keeffe on the right and he headed back into the middle, where Kelly struck first time into the bottom corner.
It looked like two late goals had earned the visitors a point, as they netted twice during the last 10 minutes.
However, Morley struck deep in stoppage to secure a well-deserved three points. A ball into the area was cleared as far as Morley who fired into the bottom corner from 20-yards.