Dale boss is expecting Wrexham replay to be difficult task
BRIAN Barry-Murphy believes tonight’s FA Cup first-round replay with Wrexham will be ‘extremely difficult’.
The Rochdale boss was pleased with his side’s performance in the 2-1 defeat away to Coventry on Saturday but will be looking for an improved result against the Red Dragons at Spotland this evening.
“I have no complaints with the way our guys played. I thought there were a lot of positives to take from the performance,” said Barry-Murphy.
“I thought we had total control of the game against a team who are obviously very possessionbased and a good side.”
The winners of tonight’s game will face a home tie with National League North side Boston United on December 1.
Dale will also be without defender Luke Matheson for the trip to North Wales after the defender featured in England Under-18s’ 1-0 win over the Czech Republic yesterday.
Tonight’s opponents have featured once since last Saturday’s goalless draw at the Racecourse Ground, being knocked out of the Scottish Challenge Cup quarter-final after a 2-0 defeat to Rangers’ Under-21s.
That result meant that Dean Keates’ side have now won just one of their last five games in all competitions, beating National League high flyers Bromley on November 1 to move them within two points of safety from the relegation zone.
“Last Sunday’s game was a proper cup tie, it’s one where we know it’s going to be extremely difficult in the return leg but we are excited to play on our home ground and the carrot of getting through to the second round is enormous for us all, and we are very keen to try to achieve that.
“But we are under no illusions as to how difficult a task that is going to be.”