Derby clash a huge test for both teams
LOCAL rivals go head to head today as ROCHDALE host BURY at the Crown Oil Arena.
Both teams head into the match desperate for a victory, with Dale yet to get their first win this season and Bury suffering back-to-back defeats.
Rochdale boss Keith Hill is looking forward to the game, but says he won’t be fazed by the occasion.
“If I take the emotion out of the game, and I’m the only one who should do that, I’m not talking about the players or the supporters, then it’s a good game for us,” he said.
“We’ve probably got between six and eight players unavailable for the fixture but that doesn’t leave me any less ambitious or any less enthusiastic about our prospects against Bury.”
Meanwhile, Bury boss Lee Clark has urged his side to up their game ahead of the derby clash. “There’s 129 points left to play for and we need to make sure we’re better and more competitive in our upcoming games,” he said.
WIGAN ATHLETIC will try to keep up their perfect start when they welcome Portsmouth to the DW Stadium.
Wigan are top of the table after winning all three of their games, and assistant manager Leam Richardson is relishing the chance to face his former club.
“We had a fantastic time at Portsmouth and were all really committed to the club,” he said.
“We left the club in a better position because we took a struggling team to Champions so it was a great two years. We’re expecting a good game and we know the capabilities of the players there and the levels that they can reach.”
OLDHAM ATHLETIC will try to put a poor start to the season behind them when they head to Blackpool.
Latics are bottom of the table after three defeats, but manager John Sheridan has seen positives.
“We’ve got to try and bring the things out that we did well in the games that we have played. We’ve played in patches and we’ve got to be more consistent,” he said.
“It’s a bit of a derby game for us and we’ll have a good following there. I’m trying to get us playing the way I want us to play and get a bit of belief in the team.”
FC UNITED OF MANCHESTER will try to put their poor start of the season behind them when they go in search of their first win today.
FC United are yet to win in the National League, picking up just one point from their opening five games to leave them bottom of the table. They will hope their bad run of form comes to end when they welcome Boston United to Broadhurst Park. Boston are in 15th place, having won two and lost three games. STOCKPORT COUNTY have a home game to contend with too as they host Gainsborough Trinity at Edgeley Park. The Hatters are ninth in the division with two wins, one draw and two defeats, and head into the match on the back of a good 3-2 win at Leamington last week.
Gainsborough have found things tough so far this season, winning one and losing four of their games. CURZON ASHTON are also at home, with the team taking on Blyth Spartans at the Tameside Stadium.
Curzon are 10th in the division with seven points to their name, while Blyth Spartans find themselves in 11th place, after taking six points from five matches. SALFORD CITY are on the road today as they head to the Brewery Field for an away game with Spennymoor Town.
Salford have started the season well, winning four of their five games to leave them in fifth spot, while Spennymoor have also been impressive and sit one place above them on goal difference.