Randall is out for three months in blow to Dale
ROCHDALE have suffered a big blow ahead of their League One match at Scunthorpe United this weekend after Connor Randall was ruled out for three months due to a fractured cheekbone.
Keith Hill’s side make the trip to Glanford Park looking to make it three straight wins in all competitions, following their 1-0 victory at Coventry last weekend and their 2-1 triumph over local rivals Bury in the EFL Trophy in midweek.
There was a blow for Rochdale in that game though as Randall was forced off through injury after just 12 minutes, and Hill has now given an update on how long he will be absent.
“He’s got a fractured cheekbone. It was a clumsy accident that led to Connor having to come off, and unfortunately for Connor, he’s going to be out for 12 weeks. That’s a big miss for us and it’s a shame for him,” he said.
“He’s back at Liverpool [for treatment] because he needs an operation but we’re in contact. We wish him well in his recovery.”
In League Two, OLDHAM ATHLETIC will try to keep up their good run of form when they host Newport County.
Latics welcome Newport to Boundary Park having won three of their last four league games, leaving them in sixth place. Newport are in second after four wins from their opening six matches, and Oldham boss Frankie Bunn expects a tough game. “We treat each game as it comes, but there will be a slightly different approach in terms of their formation,” he said.
“They tend to play three or five at the back, so we’ll have a look at that and try to figure out some strengths and weaknesses to play against that.”
BURY are also at home as they go up against Grimsby Town at Gigg Lane. It had been a frustrating start to the season for Bury after losing three of their opening five matches, but they picked up a win last weekend after defeating Morecambe 3-2.
They now take on a Grimsby side that have found things just as difficult, winning just one match so far this season and have suffered two straight defeats ahead of this weekend’s game.
MACCLESFIELD TOWN will again go in search of their first league win of the season when they head to Stevenage. The Silkmen are second bottom with two points from six matches while Stevenage are 13th.
In the Championship, BOLTON WANDERERS are eighth place in the table but QPR have struggled and are third from bottom. WIGAN ATHLETIC are away from home, as they head to Brentford. Wigan are in 10th place with Brentford in fifth after a good start to the campaign.