Ahead of Rochdale visit to the PTS Academy stadium, We look back at the past six merits between the two clubs.
24/11/2020 – Rochdale 1 Northampton 1
Keith Curle’s side looked on course for victory having lead 1-0 since the 19th minute when Harry Smith climbed to meet Mark Marshall’s corner with a towering header which ripped into the roof of Jay Lynch’s net.
Dale pushed for a leveller and went close when Alex Newby had a free-kick saved by Jonathan Mitchell while Humphrys fired another set-piece narrowly wide of the upright.
But for all Dale’s first-half possession, Northampton could have had a second when Smith met a Marshall cross from the left but undercooked his header and Lynch was able to make the save.
The introduction of Kwadwo Baah gave Dale greater impetus and he was pivotal in their equaliser, earning a free-kick on the apex of the penalty area. Humphrys rifled the set-piece into the top corner of Mitchell’s goal.
Smith went close again in time added on when he caught Lynch off his line and headed goalward, Eoghan O’Connell clearing the ball off the line.
03/02/2018 – Northampton 0 Rochdale 1
Without a league victory of any kind since November, Andrew was in the right place at the right time to convert Matt Done’s low cross and lift Dale to within eight points of safety as they brought Northampton’s four-game unbeaten run to a halt.
Rochdale belied their lowly league position to dominate the first-half and Callum Camps almost gave them an early lead when denied by Richard O’Donnell, who also kept out Mark Kitching.
The home side’s only threat throughout the game stemmed from set-pieces with Jordan Turnbull nodding a free-kick wide and John-Joe O’Toole planting a free header straight at Dale goalkeeper Josh Lillis.
The visitors took the lead eight minutes into the second half when Done got free down their left and squared for Andrew to tap-in and that proved the difference with Northampton unable to produce any kind of response.
17/10/2017 – Rochdale 2 Northampton 2
Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink’s Cobblers had already cancelled out a two-goal deficit when John-Joe O’Toole had a great chance to seal a stunning comeback only to see his 86th minute spot kick beaten away by Lillis
The home side took the lead in the 25th minute, Ian Henderson volleying home.
Dale were awarded a penalty on the hour mark after David Buchanan shoved Matt Done to the ground. Matt Ingram kept out Henderson’s penalty, but the frontman converted the rebound from close range.
The visitors were back in the game after 70 minutes when Ash Taylor stooped to head home a corner.
The equaliser came seven minutes later when Buchanan seized upon a loose ball on the left of the area to hammer a low drive beyond Lillis.
Substitute O’Toole had a great chance to win it for the visitors but saw his 86th minute spot kick saved by Lillis after Jim McNulty’s trip on Brendan Moloney.
01/03/2017 – Rochdale 1 Northampton 1
The first half was forgettable fare with neither side showing the quality or ambition to carve out a genuine opening.
The best half-chance fell to Nathaniel Mendez-Laing just before the break when he was played in by Steven Davies, but David Buchanan rescued the Cobblers, putting Mendez-Laing off his stride as he shaped to shoot.
In a low-key affair of few chances, the home side looked to have secured the points when Mendez-Laing curled home a neat finish from the edge of the area in the 57th minute.
Anderson sent a side-footed attempt narrowly wide of Conrad Logan’s post and went even closer minutes later when his firm header towards the roof of the net was palmed away by the Dale goalkeeper.
But Anderson raced onto a hopeful punt upfield by Adam Smith and lifted the ball over a stranded Logan to give the visitors a draw three minutes into time added on.
17/12/2016 – Northampton 2 Rochdale 3
Rochdale had the better of the opening exchanges, Ian Henderson fired wide and Oliver Rathbone shot over.
In between Sam Hoskins saw his effort deflected wide for Cobblers who took a 16th-minute lead when Matt Taylor curled in a 25-yard free-kick which beat Conrad Logan at his near post.
Dale were back on level terms three minutes later when Cobblers failed to clear Joe Bunney’s low cross and Lund turned the ball in from close.
Dale got on top but Cobblers had the better chances. Alex Revell had a goalbound header blocked, Taylor flashed another free-kick wide and Jak McCourt shot over.
Dale had a couple of chances before the break. Henderson shot past the near post and Steven Davies headed wide from a good position.
18/11/14 – Rochdale 2 Northampton 1 (FA Cup)
Dale were trailing 1-0 for 80 minutes of the clash, Ivan Toney having headed the Cobblers in front just five minutes in.
But Reuben Noble-Lazarus breathed life into Dale’s Cup dreams with an 85th-minute leveller and Oliver Lancashire headed the winner three minutes into time added on.
The Cobblers had set off on the right foot, taking the lead when Darren Carter drove a free-kick from the right towards the near post and Toney rose unchallenged, glancing a firm header past Conrad Logan from six yards.
That early blow had Rochdale on the ropes and with the home side at sixes and sevens, Northampton twice went close to doubling their advantage.
Firstly, a quick passing move opened up the Dale defence, John-Joe O’Toole squaring for Emile Sinclair 10 yards from goal only for the pacy wideman to make a hash of his finish.
There was another let off for Dale in the 15th minute when Marc Richards was on target with his fierce drive but was parried by Logan.
Dale levelled in the 85th minute when Reuben Noble-Lazarus, making his home debut since arriving on loan from Barnsley, slammed a smart finish into the top corner.
And deep into time added on Lancashire met Rose’s cross to secure Dale’s passage into the next round.