Dale boss vows return to winning ways following shock defeat to Bradford

Rochdale Manager Keith Hill has promised his side will bounce back from their 3-1 loss to Bradford on Tuesday night as they travel to strugglers Macclesfield Town on Saturday.

He said; “I don’t think there’ll be a ripple effect. “I think we’ll do exceptionally well throughout the course of the rest of the season. “We’ve got excellent players. We just came up against a good side in Bradford, a resolute side who came with a game plan to contain us.”

If the form guide is anything to go by it will be a tough afternoon for the Cheshire side as they head into the game on the back of two defeats and three draws. Rochdale go into the game following a 3-1 loss to Braford City, only their second defeat in 15 games.

The reverse fixture on 5th December saw ‘Dale’ take all three points in a 3-0 win at Spotland. Hull loanee Will Atkinson bagged the opener, full back Scott Wiseman added a second three minutes later before Jason Taylor put the game to bed in the 90th minute by adding a third.

As with the form, the stats don’t favour ‘The Silkmen’ as they have failed to record a league win against a top half side this season, 7 draws and 8 defeats are what they have to show.

Dale, on the other hand, have won eleven of their seventeen against bottom half oppositon with 4 draws and 2 losses.

Macclesfield’s record at The Moss Rose is the 20th best in the league having recorded just four wins combined with six draws and six defeats. Rochdale’s away record is the best in the league with eight wins, four draws and three defeats

A win or draw will keep Rochdale top but a defeat could see them drop from the top spot for the first time in 12 weeks, should Bournmouth win at Shewsbury. Three points for Macclesfield could see them rise to 18th in the league but a defeat may leave them 22nd

Team News

Macclesfield

Ben Wright will be hoping to retain his first team place over on loan Liverpool man Craig Lindfield

Jon Brain, Izak Reid, Sean Hessey, Nat Brown, Shaun Brisley, Lee Bell, Richard Butcher, Ross Draper, Colin Daniel and Ricky Sappleton will all be hoping to keep their places.

Rochdale

Frank Fielding is set to start between the sticks for Dale, with a back four of Scott Wiseman, Craig Dawson, Nathan Stanton and Tom Kennedy  if front of him.

Jason Taylor and captain Gary Jones have started the last three games in midfield with Jason Kennedy missing out, although Keith Hill may want to bring “JK” back into the side for the short trip to Cheshire

There is hot competition for a spot on the wing with Will Atkinson, Andy Haworth, Temitope Obadeyi and Kallum Higginbotham all fighting for the nod.

Chris O’Grady and Chris Dagnall are set to continue their prolific partnership up top. The frontmen have bagged 32 goals between them this season.