RUSULT – Rochdale 1 Northampton Town 1
1 point tonight means jut 1 defeat in 5 league matches and a 3rd goal for Harry Smith in 2 games. On the up!
Who are they?
Founded in 1907, Rochdale entered the Lancashire Combination and after securing promotion out of Division Two in 1909–10 they won the Division One title in 1910–11 and 1911–12. They then switched to the Central League, before being invited into the Football League when the Third Division North was created in 1921. The club remained in the division for 47 years but were relegated out of the new nationwide Third Division in 1959. They reached the League Cup final in 1962 and secured promotion out of the Fourth Division in 1968–69. Relegated in 1974, Rochdale remained in the fourth tier for 36 seasons after unsuccessful play-off campaigns in 2002, 2008 and 2009. The club finally secured promotion in 2009–10 and following relegation in 2012 were again promoted out of League Two in 2013–14.
Last Time Out
Smith’s first league goal of the campaign gave the Cobblers a second-minute lead, the striker finding space on the edge of the six-yard box to glance the ball in after Sam Hoskins had flicked on Alan Sheehan’s free-kick.
Smith’s second, midway through the second half, came as he raced onto a pass from Jack Sowerby to slip the ball beyond the advancing Ben Garratt and find the bottom corner.
Niall Ennis rattled the post for Albion moments later as the hosts looked for a lifeline but when substitute Chris Lines smashed home Mark Marshall’s cross after 81 minutes it was game over for Burton.
There was a consolation goal for Albion in stoppage time, Northampton defender Fraser Horsfall penalised for handling a cross as it came into the box giving Lucas Akins the chance to fire home, low to the bottom corner from the penalty spot.
Rochdale
The home side bossed possession for long periods but lacked the guile and craft to open up the visitors’ defence, while the Dons occasionally threatened on the counter attack but rarely troubled Jay Lynch in the Dale goal until late in the game.
Ryan Longman had a couple of half chances early on but failed to capitalise, while the hosts’ best chance of the first half came in the 39th minute, when a looping delivery from Tolaji Bola dropped onto the head of Matty Lund, but his effort was comfortably saved by Connal Trueman.
Dale had the first clear-cut opportunity of the game minutes into the second half, Ollie Rathbone galloping through the centre and drawing Trueman off his line but clipping the ball wide.
Joe Pigott tested Lynch with a deflected effort as the Dons finished the game strongly, with substitute Chislett then spinning sharply inside the area and firing into the bottom corner of the net to secure the three points.
Report supplied by PA Media
LAST TIME WE MET
3rd Febuary 2018 Northampron 0 – Rochdale 1
Calvin Andrew’s strike secured Dale’s first away league victory of the season in a 1-0 victory over Northampton Town.
Head 2 head
Games won: 20
Games drawn: 23
Games lost: 21
Played for both
Joe Bunney joined Dale from Northwich Victoria in March 2013, signing a dual contract which allowed him to appear for both clubs before the end of that season.
Keith Hill gave the 23-year-old his debut as a late substitute against Plymouth on the final day of the campaign and he responded with the only goal of the game, glancing in a header after a pinpoint cross from another debutant, Scott Tanser.
A few days later Bunney was rewarded with a two-year deal at the Crown Oil Arena and he chipped-in with three important goals to help Rochdale to promotion.
Early last season he was moved from a forward position to play at left-back and Bunney did so well in the role that his contract with the club was extended until summer 2018.
He joined the Cobblers in the summer of 2018 and made 18 apparences. hw went on to join Bolton and now play for Matlock town.
Clasicc Match
Northampton Town v Rochdale, 09 February 2013
Match Officals
Andy Haines will oversee our Sky Bet Leauge One clash with Rochdale.
The official, who has been involved in the professional game since 2007, Off the pitch, Haines is a project manager for EDF Energy and also interestingly once faced a 4,000-plus mile dash from a summer holiday in the Dominican Republic for his initial interview as an official back in 2005.
So far this season he has managed 12 games taking the names of 32 players, 2 of those seing reds.
Mr Haines last Cobblers game was a 2-0 win over grimsby on 2019 at Sixfeilds. In this game the Cobblers saw only 1 yelklow card given to the side.
Andy will be assisted by:
Alan Clayton and Paul Newhouse
Fourth Official : Matthew Parry
Where to watch
Northampton Town travel to Rochdale on Tuesday and although the match is being played behind closed doors, you can purchase a match pass to watch the game live on iFollow.
A match pass for this game costs just £10 for all UK based supporters and can be purchased here.
Fans overseas will be able to view on Season Passes or by purchasing a match pass.