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Out to repeat New Year's Day triumph

17/ 5/2008

WITHOUT a home game for the best part of a month, Rochdale welcomed 2008 with arguably their best performance of the campaign at Spotland on New Year’s Day.

The opposition? Today’s League Two play-off semi-final second leg opponents Darlington.

Starved of any action at Spotland since 5 December, Dale served up a treat on 1 January with a comfortable 3-1 win thanks to goals from Joe Thompson, Adam Le Fondre and Glenn Murray.

A repeat of that scoreline today will take Dale all the way to Wembley.

The cause is boosted by the return of Nathan Stanton, the key defender back from suspension for this game. Stanton was badly missed in the first half of the first leg, when nerves overcame one or two players. Stanton’s vocal leadership qualities ought to settle the youngsters in the return clash and his pairing with Rory McArdle is the strongest available to Keith Hill, regardless of the undoubted potential of Marcus Holness and Nathan D’Laryea.

Elsewhere it’s as-you-were, Rene Howe partnering Chris Dagnall up front with Adam Le Fondre poised from the bench.

Whether he starts or not, Darlington defender Alan White is relishing today’s clash with Dale having had a less than pleasant experience on his last visit to the ground on New Year’s Day. White, who hobbled out of last Saturday’s game with a dead leg, was sent off for persistent fouling in the comprehensive 3-1 defeat.

"We didn’t play very well in the away game down there," he said. "We started okay but then gave away a sloppy goal and lost our confidence.

"I owe Rochdale one after that red card, so playing them is spot on for me. The referee was terrible that day, I think it was one of his first games. I hope we don’t get him again."

White’s wish has been granted. The referee that day was Rob Lewis of Shropshire, today Richard Beeby, from Northamptonshire, will take charge.

With White unlikely to make the starting line up Ian Miller, scorer of last Saturday’s late winner, will come in alongside captain Stephen Foster.

The other concern for Dave Penney is who to play up front. Tommy Wright picked up a knock to the knee last weekend and is expected to miss out, while Pawel Abbott is still recovering from a hamstring injury. He has trained this week, but Penney is reluctant to throw him in too soon and risk another long-term setback.

Micky Cummins is a central midfielder by trade but has played up front in the past and could be used as the physical foil to Julien Joachim’s pace and trickery. Joachim, subject of a £1.5m transfer to Aston Villa 12 years ago, has been playing in a wider position of late and likes to work off a target man.