Dale seeking home comfort after loss

ROCHDALE will look to bounce back from their 4-1 defeat to Sunderland last weekend when they host second-placed Portsmouth in League One this afternoon.

The defeat saw Dale drop to 14th in the table, and Keith Hill’s side will be looking to improve their home form against Pompey – with three defeats in four home league games so far this season. Portsmouth’s last away outing saw them claim a 2-1 win over league-leaders Peterborough, but Hill is relishing the prospect of facing one of the league’s finest outfits.

Hill said: “I’m looking forward to it, to seeing how the players respond.

“It’s just about progression for us.”

In League Two, seventh-placed Oldham will be aiming to remain in the play-off spots when they face ninth-placed Swindon Town at the County Ground.

The Latics produced a dramatic late comeback to secure a 3-3 draw at home to Colchester in their last league outing – scoring two goals in the last five minutes through Sam Sturridge and captain Peter Clarke.

Frankie Bunn’s side are still unbeaten on the road in the league this season, and captain Chris O’Grady believes there is nothing to fear against Swindon.

He said: “They’re just another team in this division, there’s nothing to be scared of at all. We’ll just be looking to continue our away form and just treating this as another game.”

Bury will be hoping to bounce back from a 1-0 home defeat against Carlisle as they come up against Colchester at the Community Stadium.

Shakers boss Ryan Lowe could make it four wins from six this month by claiming three points against the Us who are fourth in the league and have scored 12 goals in four home games this season. After nine games, Macclesfield are still looking for their first win of the season and sit at the bottom of the Football League.

It got even worse in midweek for the Silkmen, who fell to their biggest ever defeat as a Football League club - losing 8-0 to West Ham in the Carabao Cup.

Mark Yates’ side host eighth-placed Forest Green Rovers, who are still unbeaten this season after three wins and six draws in League Two.

In the Championship, Bolton host high-flying Derby County at the University of Bolton Stadium.

The Trotters are 15th after a winless run of five matches, while sixth-placed Derby are high on confidence having beaten United in the Carabao Cup on penalties after a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Wigan are fifth in the Championship having won three of their last four games – and they face Norwich City at Carrow Road.