Non-league ploy for FA Cup clash
ROCHDALE will adopt a ‘nonleague attitude’ to tomorrow’s FA Cup first round clash at Maidstone United.
Dale were due to travel to Kent today ahead of the game and manager Keith Hill insisted his League One side would have no problems tuning into the mentality of the Vanarama National League side.
The tie at the Gallagher Stadium will be played on an artificial surface – but that’s something Dale are used to and Hill said his players will not be fazed by the pitch or the opposition.
“There’s no excuses, it’s a cup game and we will give respect to Maidstone like we do any team,” he said.
“If we were playing Manchester United it would be exactly the same.
“We will go there with a non-league attitude because that’s what this club is built on - the attitude of the players is that of a non-league player with a non-league manager and a non-league work ethic.
“It doesn’t concern me, the fact it’s on a synthetic pitch – we train on it on a regular basis.
“There’s no banana skins for me. It’s yesterday’s news if we get beat, but we’re going there planning to win.”
With Ian Henderson among the injured players ruled out of the clash, Hill will rely on his young guns once again – though he hinted there would be no wholesale changes to the line-up.
“We have been rotating a lot with respect to injuries and suspensions, changing form – we’ve done it all season,” he said. “There are players who are getting regular football, some who are getting some football and there’s not many who are getting no football unless they are actually injured.
“I am pleased to be working with this squad of players that I have recruited and retained – that’s where I am responsible for putting the team out on a match day and it will be no different at Maidstone because we will not take them lightly. It’s a big, big cup the FA Cup.”
While his side will start the game as favourites, Hill insisted there was no pressure on him or the team going into the match and, regardless of the outcome, the club board see the progress being made at the Crown Oil Arena.
“The chairman is happy, he’s always happy,” he said.
“He sees the work that goes on behind the scenes and there’s a lot of that. We’re bringing young players through who could be our life blood.
“He’d love a cup run, I think everyone would love a cup run because it’s finances and finances are really, really important.
“But what we don’t do is overspend, which is really, really important to me and to the chairman.”
Preparations for the FA Cup game were soured slightly during the week with news that striker Calvin Andrew had been charged following an incident in the 1-0 win against Oldham which was not seen by the match officials but caught on video.
It was alleged that he was involved in an act of violent conduct in or around the 77th minute of last weekend’s game.
It was also alleged that the standard punishment of three matches that would otherwise apply was insufficient.
The club was in the process of challenging the charge as the Observer went to press.
Meanwhile, Matty Lund has been called up to the Northern Ireland squad for their upcoming fixtures against Azerbaijan and Croatia.
Michael O’Neill’s side take on Azerbaijan in a World Cup qualifier on Friday 11th November at Windsor Park. They then host Croatia in a friendly match on Tuesday 15th March.
It means Lund will miss Dale’s trip to Valley Parade to face Bradford City on Saturday 12th November.
Northern Ireland are third in World Cup qualifying Group C, after recording a win, a draw and a loss in their opening three fixtures.
‘We will go there with a non-league attitude because that’s what the club is built on’