Preview: Colchester United vs. Rochdale - prediction, team news, lineups

Colchester United will be bidding to make it three League Two matches unbeaten when they welcome Rochdale to Essex on Tuesday night.

The home side have collected four points from their last two games to move seven points clear of the relegation zone, while Rochdale occupy 18th position in the table, three points above their opponents here.

Match preview

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Colchester ended a six-game losing run against Salford City on January 22, recording a 3-0 victory in Greater Manchester, which gave them some breathing room towards the bottom of the League Two table.

The Essex outfit could not make it back-to-back wins on Saturday, but they still managed to pick up a welcome point at home to Swindon Town, with Emyr Huws rescuing a draw in the latter stages of the contest.

Colchester have won six, drawn eight and lost 12 of their 26 league matches this season to collect 26 points, which has left them in 22nd position in the table, seven points clear of 23rd-placed Oldham Athletic.

The U's only just survived relegation from the Football League last season, finishing in 20th spot in the table, and their supporters will have been encouraged by the last two results.

Wayne Brown's side have only picked up 13 points from their 12 home league fixtures this term, while they have only managed 11 League Two goals in front of their own supporters in 2021-22.

Rochdale have drawn their last two league matches against Bradford City and Oldham Athletic both 0-0, with their last success in the fourth tier coming at home to Newport County on December 12.

The Dale have won six, drawn 11 and lost eight of their 25 league matches this season to collect 29 points, which has left them in 18th position in the table, three points above their opponents here.

Rochdale have actually only played 25 league games this term, so they have three matches in hand on some of the teams around them, and a record of just eight league defeats at this stage is relatively strong considering their position in the table.

Robbie Stockdale's side have actually picked up 14 league points on their travels this term, while they are unbeaten in their last seven league matches against Colchester, including a 1-1 draw in the reverse clash earlier this season.

Team News

Colchester will be without the services of Shamal George and Luke Chambers following their red cards in the 1-1 draw with Swindon on Saturday afternoon.

Ted Collins is expected to come into the side between the sticks, while Cameron Coxe could feature in the middle of the defence.

There are not likely to be any surprises further forward, though, with Freddie Sears, who has scored nine times in League Two this term, leading the line.

As for Rochdale, Jimmy Keohane and Josh Andrews are again expected to be absent through injury, while Liam Kelly remains a doubt for the away team.

Abraham Odoh is an option for change in the final third of the field, but Tahvon Campbell is again expected to operate at the tip of the attack for the visitors on Tuesday night.

Colchester United possible starting lineup:
Collins; Tchamadeu, Coxe, Dallison-Lisbon, Kenlock; Huws, Skuse; Hannant, Sarpong-Wiredu, Judge; Sears

Rochdale possible starting lineup:
Coleman; Downing, O'Connell, Dorsett; O'Keeffe, Broadbent, Dooley, Clark; Newby, Campbell, Grant

We say: Colchester United 1-1 Rochdale

Colchester will be looking to make it three league games unbeaten on Tuesday evening, and we are finding it difficult to back the hosts to lose this match, but Rochdale have only been beaten in one of their last four in the league, so we have had to settle on a low-scoring draw.

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