MATCH PREVIEW: We're back in Rochdale on Tuesday

Rearranged fixture for the Blues

28 March 2022

With the original fixture postponed when the heavens opened on Rochdale at the beginning of February, it's back to the Crown Oil Arena on Tuesday night to get the game played.

bits

The Dale provided their fans with a pre-Christmas boost when they announced that popular midfielder Abraham Odoh had signed a new deal to remain at the club until the end of the 2022/23 season.

The 21-year-old livewire joined Dale in February and has made 30 appearances during the current campaign.

"I want to thank the manager for giving me this opportunity and I'm looking forward to progressing," Odoh told the club's website. "I like the football we play and I like the atmosphere around the club, and how we're all together."

Sadly, Abraham was subjected to racial abuse on one of his social media platforms just a fortnight before he penned his new deal - credit to everyone at Spotland for the swift manner in which they reacted to this abhorrent behaviour.

opposition

Dale had a busy January, but it was a departure that kicked things off when forward Jake Beesley left to head to Blackpool.

Midfielder Aaron Morley was next to go when he made the short hop to Bolton. That paved the way for some incomings, and striker Luke Charman arrived from Darlington for an undisclosed fee.

Defender Max Clark was released by Fleetwood, and forward Tahvon Campbell arrived from Woking the same day, again for an undisclosed fee.

Another defensive option was added courtesy of Corey O'Keeffe, who had parted ways with Mansfield.

Pompey allowed defender Paul Downing to head north on a half-season loan, and the transfer window closed shortly after Solihull Moors midfielder James Ball was secured, with the fee once again kept under wraps.

Rochdale like a draw, they've had 16 in the league so far, and indeed two of their last five fixtures have been stalemates.

Last Tuesday night brought frustration when a late Jordan Bowery goal gave visitors Mansfield the three points, and their trip to Crawley at the weekend was equally disappointing as a first-half strike from Ash Nadesan was enough to secure a win for the home team.

Just the eight league wins so far this campaign suggests a little bit of a hangover from last term's relegation, but there's quality in the squad and a determination from gaffer Robbie Stockdale that things will hit an upturn, and soon.

who watch

Tahvon Campbell was our one to watch, then Sunday afternoon brought the news that both he and Jimmy Ball had suffered season-ending injuries.

An x-ray confirmed a broken foot for the forward, with Ball diagnosed with a nasty groin problem.

Our late rewrite brings the experienced Matt Done into the fold as our one to keep an eye on this Tuesday.

Click HERE to purchase an video match pass which will allow you to watch and listen to this game via our streaming iFollow service.

With match commentary provided by BBC Radio Cumbria, this is a fantastic way to follow your team through the season.

Match audio passes are available for ALL EFL league games - click HERE to find out more about this season’s iFollow United service.

highlights

	Carlisle wins	Draws	Rochdale wins
FA Cup	0	1	2
League	40	19	32
Cup	2	1	1
League Cup	1	2	2
Total	43	23	36

Rochdale were at Brunton Park at the beginning of March 2022 and an early goal from Omari Patrick out the hosts in the driving seat. Tobo Sho-Silve came off the bench to secure the victory with just over three minutes left to play.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

These teams came together in the Carabao Cup in August 2019 down at Spotland. Jack Bridge scored a second half penalty for United, but Aaron Morley and Matty Done had already done the damage, and it wad the Dale who progressed.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

officials

Referee - James Oldham
Assistant Referee 1 - Wayne Grunnill
Assistant Referee 2 - Chris Isherwood
Fourth Official - Tom Nield
Observer - Nigel Miller

Our referee for this fixture is Mr James Oldham. James has taken charge of 25 games so far this season, showing 92 yellow cards and three reds.

He was the man in the middle for our Carabao Cup meeting with Sheffield United at Brammall Lane in August 2021. A solitary goal in the first half from Rhian Brewster was enough to win the tie for the hosts, and Jack Armer's was the only name taken on the night.

We saw James at Walsall in January 2021 where goals from Omari Patrick and Josh Kayode secured a 2-0 away win, with the game being completed just in the nick of time as snow started to fall. Aaron Hayden, Jack Armer and Taylor Charters were booked for the Blues.

Mr Oldham was in charge of our home game against Walsall in January 2020. Byron Webster, Stefan Scougall and Mike Jones had their names taken with no goals bagged.

He was at Brunton Park for his first ever Football League game as the man in the middle for our 2019/20 season opener against Crawley Town. Harry McKirdy and Stefan Scougall scored in the first half, either side of a net bulger from Beryly Lubula, and that was it for the goals as United claimed a 2-1 win. Byron Wesbter went in the book for the home side and Lewis Young was sent off late in the day for the Red Devils.

We saw Mr Oldham again for our first-round Emirates FA Cup meeting with Dulwich Hamlet in November 2019. Olufela Olomola, Harry McKirdy (2) and Mike Jones bagged for the Blues, and Byron Webster and Ryan Loft had their names taken as Carlisle recorded a 4-1 victory.

Mr Oldham ended his time as an official with the National League at Wembley with the play-off final between Salford City and AFC Fylde in May 2019.

tickets

We have received an initial allocation of 605 tickets for this fixture.

Prices

Adult	£22
Senior (65+)	£17
Young adult (21 & under)	£14
Junior (11 & under)	£7

Any supporters who are in possession of a concession ticket on a match day who are not believed to qualify for the relevant concession will be directed to Rochdale's ticket office to pay the upgrade amount. Therefore, it is suggested that all concessions bring proof of their qualification for a concession ticket.

Rochdale operate a barcode entrance, there are no cash turnstiles in operation on a match day.

Rochdale do not duplicate any tickets that are lost, stolen or damaged.

Disabled info

Ambulant disabled and wheelchair user supporters pay the relevant price with the carer free of charge. These can be purchased through Carlisle United.

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Methods of purchase:

In person – come to the main ticket office in the Pioneer Stand at the designated time. Ticket sales on home match days will be from the West Stand ticket office.

Phone – ring the ticket office on 0330 094 5930 at the designated times and pay with a credit / debit card.

Internet – click HERE and follow the online instructions.

Match Reports

MATCH REPORT: Rochdale 2 - 0 United

Report from the Saturday afternoon away game

29 March 2022

United headed to the Crown Oil Arena with a run of three wins from three away games since new manager Paul Simpson took charge under their belts.

The team was unchanged from the Saturday starters who battled out an excellent home win against Bristol Rovers, with the bench also the same.

It was a tight start to the game, and Dynel Simeu found himself in the book with just five minutes on the clock when he stretched to make a tackle in midfield.

Rochdale tried to get foward with purpose and Charman drilled one high over the bar as he reached the edge of the box following a scrappy period of play.

The home side won a penalty on nine minutes when Dooley worked his way into the box. He went down as Whelan poked a toe out to make a tackle. James Oldham pointed to the spot, and Liam Kelly rattled the kick into the bottom corner.

Home tails were up and a winding run from Charman opened things up as Cashman came in support. A deflection took it behind for a corner, and that delivery caused problems after Simeu had nodded it clear. Kelly clipped it into the mix but the 14-yard volley from Charman was weak.

United showed at the other end when Dennis was fouled after he'd trapped a long kick forward from Howard. Dickenson floated it to the back stick, Simeu headed it across the face of goal, but Patrick sent his connection over the bar.

An excellent run from Dickenson took him past his man as he raced down the left flank, with United looking more lively, and his cut back invited movement from Dennis. O'Connell stepped in to make a much-needed interception.

United should have equalised midway through the half when Patrick took a deft touch with has back to goal. Riley streaked onwards, and his delivery was a beauty as Dennis and Dickenson made their way into the area. It was Armer who timed it right, but he got his bearings wrong with an attempt at a placed shot which angled well wide of the upright.

The visitors had a corner just past the half hour when Gibson dropped a shoulder to cross, but it was low and cleared early.

A long throw from Dickenson saw Feeney challenge with Lynch, and it eventually came back to the wide man, who thrashed it low at the target. It was cleared, but the same man was there to charge it down and go once again at the box.

Carlisle were wasteful with corners, with three in succession hitting the first man, but they had a chance in time added on when Dickenson headed a kick from Howard towards Patrick. He shot from distance, but Lynch gathered it in and the home side were able to see the half through with their lead intact.

United dominated the territory through the early stages of the second period, but they couldn't quite find a way through as Riley and Patrick worked hard on the right, with Dickenson and Armer doing the same on the left.

The away side had a goal chalked off for a foul on the stopper just past the hour as Dennis challenged for a high cross with Lynch. It was spilled, but the whistle blew.

Carlisle probed again with an overload in the final third, and a volley from Riley was blocked. Gibson was onto the rebound in a flash, but his rasper was straight at Lynch.

United had a good spell of pressure with teasers into the box which wouldn't quite settle. Half chances came and went, but the blue shirts defended in numbers to protect their lines.

There was a lovely move from the visitors on 72 minutes when Patrick recycled possession, and fed it back to Simeu. He switched play with an accurate pass to Armer, and he combined with Dickenson to open a gap for the cross. It skipped across the face of goal screaming out for a touch.

Dickenson was tenacious again moments later and he robbed the ball off O'Connell as the defender dallied. He shrugged off a challenge and whisked it in but it was diverted over the bar by Dorsett.

Gibson was back to help defensively when Dale attacked with 10 minutes left to go, but the home side were quickest to the clearance and Grant was suddenly clean through. He thundered an unstoppable shot off the underside of the bar to double the advantage against the run of play.

That was it for clear-cut chances and it was Rochdale who picked up the points which eased them away from the foot of the table.

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Goals

Rochdale - Kelly (10 pen), Grant (81)

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Bookings

Rochdale - Lynch (70)

Carlisle United - Simeu (6), Devine (63), Dickenson (90)

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Teams

Rochdale - Lynch, O'Keefe, O'Connell (c) (McNulty 88), Dooley, Charman, Grant, Dorsett, Keohane, Cashman (Odoh 67), Kelly (Broadbent 84), Clark. Subs - Wade (gk), Newby, Done, Andrews.

Carlisle United - Howard, Riley, Simeu, Feeney, Mellish, Armer (Omotoye 76), Gibson, C Whelan (c) (Devine 60), Dickenson, Patrick, Dennis (Sho-Silva 60). Subs - Norman (gk), Mellor, McDonald, Alessandra.

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Match officials

Referee - James Oldham
Assistant Referee 1 - Wayne Grunnill
Assistant Referee 2 - Chris Isherwood
Fourth Official - Tom Nield
Observer - Graham Salisbury

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Attendance - 2,160 (501)