Rochdale v Blackpool Official Matchnight Thread 20.04.21

I think this will be an extremely difficult game. A few days after a big game against Sunderland, a big physical and mental effort. Rochdale fighting for their lives and bolstered by a 3-1 win over Accy. A draw might be a good result.

We have a tough run in, in the circumstances. Three games against teams fighting for survival, never easy, plus Sunderland away. Playing sides with nowt to play for can be hard too, tension vs nowt to lose. One game at a time, hold our nerve, not panic if we have a bad day. Get over the line into the play offs, and take it from there.
 
Looked to me like we had a few weary players on Saturday, even Jerry wasn't as energetic as normal. Same squad minus the Viking, we need players back to help.
Get the points as quick as we can, start resting players and give players like Apter, Antwi and Holmes a chance.
 
rememberlesshannon said:
Looked to me like we had a few weary players on Saturday, even Jerry wasn't as energetic as normal. Same squad minus the Viking, we need players back to help.
Get the points as quick as we can, start resting players and give players like Apter, Antwi and Holmes a chance.
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For me no way is it a time to bleed the kids.
 
Tota
rememberlesshannon said:
Looked to me like we had a few weary players on Saturday, even Jerry wasn't as energetic as normal. Same squad minus the Viking, we need players back to help.
Get the points as quick as we can, start resting players and give players like Apter, Antwi and Holmes a chance.
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Totally agree. It must be affecting Rochdale too as they only have a small squad.

Would take a point tonight with a win on Saturday.
If we can achieve 6 points from next 2 games then we are almost assured to make the play offs. Not sure though if players will be rested for Sunderland game though.
 
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Made hard work of them at home
They were scoring for fun at that point, but have now bagged about the same as us and I believe only Swindon have conceded more.
Of course players will be tired, but, as has been pointed out elsewhere on this forum, they'll have injuries and a smaller squad with which to contend with them.
Fighting for their lives, Rochdale will be a tough nut to crack, but, as has been mentioned many times, these are the games we have to win if we're to mount a serious promotion push.
At some point we're going to lose a game. Every matchday I say, " Hope it's not today".
COYP
 
GrahamwantshisOates said:
Tota

Totally agree. It must be affecting Rochdale too as they only have a small squad.

Would take a point tonight with a win on Saturday.
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Draw and a win would take is to 72 points with 4 games remaining. I'd be very happy with that. Dale have won 2 and drawn 2 of their last 4 home games, the draws against Peterborough and Ipswich.
 
Not looking forward to this one at all, but as said, the sort of game we need to step up for. As much as the unbeaten run is fantastic, is it becoming a weight around our necks? Hopefully not, I'd be happy enough with a point right now 😬
 
Rochdale are in desperate need of the points just as much as we are. We also know they do like to play football. Now is not the time to rest players, they are doing just fine. Minimal changes required and a game we need to give as much focus and effort to as that against Sunderland. I suspect it'll be another very tight game but one I think Jerry and Ellis can do well in.
 
We lost our usual shape on Saturday with no link between our midfield and forwards, which meant Jerry and Ellis were starved of possession. I assume Embleton will come back in to fill that role.
 
Another poor side arrives at Bloomfield Road and we know generally what happens when we play this type of side.

I'd rather be playing Sunderland away to be honest. More confident of points against a side that think they are good but aren't.
 
Tangerine_Dream said:
I actually thought Sunderland were the best side we've faced this season. Knocked it around well and created more chances than other teams have managed against us for a while.

Having Embleton back to link midfield and attack is a big bonus for us tonight.
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Yes, Sunderland are not a poor side. They virtually snuffed us out for one thing. If we play them in the play-offs it won't be easy, without Embleton. Maybe Keshi can come back and fulfil that role, to some extent at least. We will certainly need to find another way to attack them, cos we created very little on Saturday.
 
voyeur said:
Yes, Sunderland are not a poor side. They virtually snuffed us out for one thing. If we play them in the play-offs it won't be easy, without Embleton. Maybe Keshi can come back and fulfil that role, to some extent at least. We will certainly need to find another way to attack them, cos we created very little on Saturday.
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Agreed, we could quite have easily lost on Saturday if they were a little more clinical. I came away from the match thinking that they're the one side I would like to avoid in the play offs.

There's Keshi and potentially Ward could do that role if Stewart is back to full fitness.
 
I posted on another thread a few days ago that I'd rather be playing Rochdale tonight than a month or so ago.

They have to win, a draw isn't any good to them really. That means they will have to come out and have a go, leaving gaps for us to exploit. They wont be able to park 10 men behind the ball like Accrington last week. They might try it for half an hour, but if we are patient or get a goal early we will go on to win, I'll go for 2-0, with one from Yates.
 
Tangerine_Dream said:
I actually thought Sunderland were the best side we've faced this season. Knocked it around well and created more chances than other teams have managed against us for a while.

Having Embleton back to link midfield and attack is a big bonus for us tonight.
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I don't remember them creating any more chances than Crewe or Ipswich have against us. They passed it around nicely in their 3rd but that doesn't get you goals and bar hitting the post, they didn't have many more clear cut chances than we did.
 
When we played Ipswich, we were awful, there’s no getting away from that.

Sunderland had a decent chance in the first half when McGeady clipped it over the top and their fella was in on goal but a poor touch took it away from him.
They had one cleared off the line by Ballard.
McGeady hit the post.

On another day (Ipswich at home) they all go in and we lose the game.

Happy we came away with the points but I think they’re a much better side than you give them credit for.
 
Their first goal was quality, good build up and finish. Every team in this league is capable of beating us if we are not at it from the start. I don't think there will be many changes apart from Grets but Husband, Ekp and Robson could all have a role to play and having Embleton back fresh is a bonus.
 
AndrewDuncanSmith said:
The match against Rochdale will be a difficult one as they are fighting for survival and have just hit
some good form. Hopefully we will win it by the odd goal.
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I thought the same before we faced Swindon recently. They had just won 2 on the bounce as well. Our fears were soon putto bed. Hopefully same tonight.

Lets face it, no matter who we were playing tonight we would have some doubts.
 
1-2 Blackpool! All games are tough now and equally as important. Can’t afford to drop points now!
 
Rochdale have re invented themselves and set up a lot more like us, it has begun reaping dividends for them. We are however superior at being us and an early goal should set them up nicely for a beating
 
I’m minded to go for a home win, under normal circumstances as this would a game I would have gone to and just the kind of local(ish) derby where we get stung 2-1 after taking the lead!

But these are different times and a different Blackpool these days, I’ll go for a jammy 1-0 to us with a late, stole the points, goal by Jerry Yates!
 
Poor Gretarsson can't get a run in the team can he? Gets 1 game back and is out injured again, got to be the unluckiest player I can remember!

Wouldn't have minded seeing Ekpiteta return, but if Turton/Thorniley can do a number on Peterborough, Ballard/Thorniley will have my trust. To be fair second half of this season we can play anyone at centre half and do alright!
 
Hopefully we'll be winning and Holmes can get a run out, was he on the bench against Gillingham? Surprised he didn't get 15 minutes there with a 3 goal cushion
 
Could be a toughie with Rochdale in a bit of form but I’ll be positive and say we are in better form and a better team.

They are 5 behind Wigan in the last safe position in the division so a draw isn’t going to be great for them.

Could do with an early goal to make them come at us, which our rock solid defence will be able to deal with, giving us plenty of chances to counter and help us to a 3-0 victory.
 
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