In a clash that could impact both the race for promotion and the battle to stay in the National League, Rochdale are set to host Boston United at Crown Oil Arena on Tuesday.
The home side are in seventh place with 56 points following their 1-1 draw with Oldham Athletic on Saturday, while their opponents beat Braintree Town 1-0 on the same date but are second last in 23rd place with 34 points.
Match preview
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Rochdale opened the scoring after five minutes against Oldham but were unable to hold out, and goalkeeper Sam Waller will be disappointed that he conceded Vimal Yoganathan's 85th-minute equaliser given that his header looped slowly above the shot stopper into the right side of the net.
To their credit, the Dale have only conceded two goals in their past five while keeping three clean sheets.
Boss Jim McNulty's side currently occupy the last of six promotion playoff spots, and while they are seven points from fourth-placed Oldham, his team boast the advantage of having four games in hand.
The hosts are unbeaten in six outings, winning on four occasions while scoring 12 goals and conceding just three times.
Rochdale have also triumphed in each of their last four matches at home, though they did lose three and draw one of their prior four at Crown Oil Arena.
![23 year old Boston United defender Mitchell Roberts (4) passes the ball during the National League match between Boston United and Forest Green Rovers at the Jakemans Community Stadium, Boston, United Kingdom on August 17, 2024 [on August 18, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/33/mitchell-roberts.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "23 year old Boston United defender Mitchell Roberts (4) passes the ball during the National League match between Boston United and Forest Green Rovers at the Jakemans Community Stadium, Boston, United Kingdom on August 17, 2024 [on August 18, 2024]")
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Opponents Boston United held out against Braintree and kept their second consecutive clean sheet, something they had not achieved since April 2024.
The visitors are currently in the second of four relegation spots, but only two points separate them from 20th-placed Dagenham & Redbridge, whom they have two games in hand on.
Head coach Graham Coughlan will hope to avoid a repeat of the sides' last clash against their hosts given his team were beaten 3-0 on August 10.
The Pilgrims come into the match in good form considering they are undefeated in their past five, winning three times.
Boston United's record on the road is strong, with the club emerging victorious in their four most recent fixtures away from home.
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Team News
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Rochdale could use a similar starting XI to the side that played against Oldham, so perhaps Jack Kingdon, Liam Hogan and Sam Beckwith will feature in a back three.
Midfielders Jake Burger and Harvey Gilmour are likely to appear behind forwards Jay Bird, Kairo Mitchell and Aidan Barlow.
As for Boston United, expect centre-backs Zak Mills, Connor Teale and Bradley Nicholson to appear in the backline behind midfielders Jordan Richards and Dylan Hill.
Up front, strikers Jimmy Knowles and Jacob Hazel may be supported by attacking midfielder Keaton Ward.
Rochdale possible starting lineup:
Waller; Kingdon, Hogan, Beckwith; Adebayo-Rowling, Burger, Gilmour, Allarakhia; Bird, Mitchell, Barlow
Boston United possible starting lineup:
Gregory; Mills, Teale, Nicholson; Rowe, Richards, Hill, Green; Ward; Knowles, Hazel
We say: Rochdale 2-1 Boston United
With both sides in strong form, Tuesday's clash will likely to be a closely-fought contest and the victor may only win by a one-goal margin.
Considering Rochdale's position in the league, it would not be surprising if they managed to take all three points against Boston United.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
