Dale host Wycombe following spirited show at Old Trafford

ROCHDALE will no doubt receive a warm welcome on their return to the Crown Oil Arena this afternoon after their Carabao Cup heroics against United at Old Trafford in midweek.

Dale took the Reds all the way to penalties following a 1-1 draw, however, Daniel James slotted home the decisive spotkick to deny Brian BarryMurphy’s side a historic victory.

But now it’s back to business for Dale, who host Wycombe Wanderers in League One this afternoon (3pm).

Fresh from a whirlwind week having scored Dale’s equaliser against the Reds, 16-year-old Luke Matheson will be pushing for a starting spot against the high-flying Chairboys.

Dale go into the game placed 17th in the table - with just one win in their last seven league outings - but the spirited performance against one of the top teams in the country will provide Barry-Murphy’s men with a massive confidence boost.

And they’ll need to be at the top of their game today against one of the league’s in-form sides.

Gareth Ainsworth’s men currently sit third in the table – two points off top spot – and they go into the game on the back of victory over Portsmouth, with striker Adebayo Akinfenwa converting a late penalty to secure the three points.

Despite Dale sitting just four places above the relegation zone, they’re six points clear of the bottom three and while the visitors will go into the tie as favourites, the courageous cup show from BBM’s men could prove to be the platform for a run of success.