The Fishy - Grimsby Town FC



Upcoming Fixtures

Thu 28/03
Chilean Primera
Audax Italiano v Coquimbo Unido
Argentine Copa de la Liga Profesional
Rosario Central v Barracas Central
USL League One
Charlotte Independence v Spokane Velocity
Chilean Primera
O'Higgins v Deportes Iquique
Club Friendlies
Flekkerøy v Jerv
Argentine Copa de la Liga Profesional
Instituto v Argentinos Juniors
Ecuador Serie A
LDU de Quito v Imbabura
Australia A-League
Adelaide United v Western United
Club Friendlies
HJK Helsinki v PK35
Japan J-League
Tokyo Verdy v Kyoto Sanga
Portuguese Liga Pro
Belenenses v Feirense
Club Friendlies
EIF v KäPa
PEPO v JIPPO
U18 Premier League North
Middlesbrough U18 v Sunderland U18
China Super League
Sichuan Jiuniu v Cangzhou Mighty Lions

Full Fixture List

Follow the Fishy on Twitter
NewsNow logo

Question of the Week

Who will go down?







Logan to Start
Logan to Start

Grimsby v Rochdale

By: Alex Green
Date: 11/10/2007

ANOTHER of the club's fantastic Friday fun nights awaits the Mariners after the win on Tuesday night. Well if we lose at least we get time to watch the football and the rugby.

Home > 2007-2008 Season > Previews > Rochdale (h)


The Opposition

Overview

Well if neither team is having to have a break every twenty minutes for this match we know we've got through the worst, with three games in six day for both teams it’s a tough schedule and one which may take its toll for Friday's game. Being a place above Town with a game in hand is impressive from a team with an even tighter budget then ourselves and they have the chance to move up into play-off contention if they win their game in hand and against ourselves. It may though seem an underachievement from Dale fans as Rochdale just missed out on the play-offs last year only two places beneath Shrewsbury who clinched last spot in the last game at Gay Meadow. Rochdale who feel they have a permanent position on the bottom rung will feel hard done by with several close calls on promotion in the last decade, occasionally just missing out on promotion by a single point. Most Dale fans though will just be happy to see the back of Bury as both teams have played each other twice in the last three days and both times Rochdale lost at Spotland seeing the end of their football trophy campaign and an undefeated run going back to the 18th of August. Their defeats won’t dishearten many Dales after a precious point against high flying Darlington at the Darlington Arena on the 2nd of October.

This Season
Either way Keith Hill (above) the Rochdale manager who narrowly missed out on manager of the month just a few days ago has some shuffling to arrange with such a hectic schedule of late there will no doubt be knocks and bruises to overcome and with a small squad both clubs will be spread so thin it will make gold leaf somewhat substantial. Expect to see the old face of Simon Ramsden who has found his feet on the outskirts of Manchester since leaving Blundell Park in 2006. Adam Le Fondre (left) who signed from Stockport County has also impressed since his arrival in January. Hill has also bought in Guy Branston on loan from Peterborough and Keith Lomax and Marcus Holness both from Oldham. During the break Hill also bought in Jerome Watt from Northampton and Nathan D’Laryea from Man City bolstering his experienced squad.

Key Player
I don't particularly want to pick one as a high percentage of them get on the score sheet so let’s go with Rochdale’s goalkeeper. James Spencer who was a trainee with Stockport only a few months has so far impressed between the sticks and at only the age of 22 Spencer has a lot to learn but is learning fast and improving in every game. A few displays of his have earned Rochdale a point or two where they have found their backs against the wall and the youngster could have a lot to do if Town can pepper his goal with shots. Expect the town forwards to have a tough one to beat the youngster whose tenacity will make at least one crucial save and being way back in goal means the guy can't score............. I hope.

Recent Form

TownRochdale
DRotherham(a)1-1 (4-2p)
LPeterborough(a)1-2
LChester(h)1-2
WHereford(h)2-1
WLincoln(a)2-1
Currently 20th in League Two.
LBury(h)1-3
LBury(h)1-2
DDarlington(a)1-1
WShrewsbury(a)4-3
DMacclesfield(h)1-1
Currently 19th in League Two.

Top Scorers

TownRochdale
Ciaran Toner4
Paul Bolland3
Dagnall3

Team News

TownRochdale

  • New loan signing Shaleum Logan is expected to slot straight in at right back, which means a place on the bench for either Ryan Bennett or Justin Whittle, the latter of whom is a slight injury doubt anyway.

  • James Hunt has returned from injury and may appear from the bench. Midfielder Danny Boshell is also a doubt as his wife is in labour.

  • Phil Barnes has recovered from his knock and put in an impressive display against Rotherham cementing his place in goal

  • Alan Buckley's biggest decision is whether to keep the 4-4-2 formation that did so well in the second half on Tuesday, which may mean a starting place for Gary Jones and Andy Taylor, with Isaiah Rankin having to settle for a place on the bench.
  • Rochdale will be without Chris Dagnall who is spending months on the sidelines after cruicate ligament injury.

  • Guy Branston may be recalled to Peterborough from his loan spell at Rochdale.
  • Probable Teams

    TownRochdale
    G1Barnes
    DTBALogan
    D6Fenton
    D15Whittle (C)
    D3Newey
    D7Till
    M8Bolland
    M11Boshell
    M10Toner
    F19Jones
    F20Taylor
    G1Spencer
    D19Lomax
    D23McArdle
    D3Kennedy
    D16Perkins
    M7Muirhead
    M8Jones (C)
    M5Doolan
    M11Rundle
    F10Le Fondre
    F17Murray

    Subs

    TownRochdale
    13Montgomery
    5Bennett
    4Hunt
    18Bore
    12Rankin
    21Russell
    18Higginbotham
    31Holness
    15Thompson
    27Prendergast

    Head to Head

    Although Grimsby have a good record over Rochdale overall, in this century Dale have been somewhat of a bogey side for the Mariners. Town have lost four of the last six league games between the two clubs and only won one.

    P 41 W 21 D 7 L 13 F 73 A 56

    Rochdale Head-to-Head (12th on The Opposition Ladder)

    Last Meeting

    Grimsby 0-4 Rochdale (Saturday 01st January 2007)

    The first day of 2007 is best forgotten by all Mariners, one of the worst drubbings in Grimsby's history as the Dale came to Blundell Park and won 4-0, with ex-Mariner Simon Ramsden scoring twice to rub salt in the wound.

     Report

    Prediction

    Town to bury the memory of past meetings with the Dale.

    Grimsby Town 2-0 Rochdale

    Reader's POMs

    Directions

    Click on the link for directions to Blundell Park (left).

    Admission Prices

    Click on the link for ticket prices to Blundell Park.

    Add To Facebook


    This site is by the fans, for the fans, and we will consider articles on any subject relating to the Mariners whether it be related to current news, a nostalgic look back in the past, a story about a player, a game or games in the past, something about Blundell Park or football in general. Click here to submit your article!


    Related Stories


    Forum Latest
    Thread TitlePostsLatest Post
    David Artell Interview Dn35 Podcast15Mappers28/03 20:11
    Just Back 170diehardmariner28/03 20:03
    Prediction Thread Barrow A31kevikov28/03 19:38
    New Training Ground.!!57Sigone28/03 19:38
    Youth players out on loan21diehardmariner28/03 16:54
    Dn35 podcast drinking game4moosey_club28/03 15:59
    "Beat the Clock"  Barrow22Grantham_Mariner28/03 15:18
    Bradford KO time?4JK4728/03 13:13
    Twenty First Group / Overseas Market31jimgtfc28/03 11:16
    TV Games/Upcoming Fixtures4SiteBot28/03 03:30