Rochdale vs Carlisle United - match preview

Photo: Jon Colucccio

Chris Dagnall is expected to come into the starting line-up against Carlisle.

Rochdale manager Keith Hill is set to ring the changes for tomorrow night's Johnstones Paint Trophy second round game against Carlisle (Tuesday 7 October, kick-off 7.30pm) after describing the performance in Saturday's capitulation against Dagenham and Redbridge as the worst in his 79 games as Dale boss.

With another league game at Lincoln on Friday night, Hill has hinted at giving his squad players a chance to show that they are capable of holding down a place in an under-performing first team.

Under the rules of the competition Hill is unable to make too many changes, as he must field six first team regulars, but even so the likes of Chris Dagnall, Joe Thompson, Ciaran Toner, Marcus Holness and goalkeeper James Spencer could all start after making up the Dale substitute's bench on Saturday.

Dagnall in particular will be hoping to make an impact after a loss of form has seen him take up residence on the bench in Dale's last four matches and the striker, who played a crucial role in pushing Dale to the play-off final last season, has only one goal to his name so far this term.

The Dale manager is looking for an instant reaction from is players after assistant boss Dave Flitcroft described the atmosphere in the dressing room after the Dagenham defeat as the worst he had experienced during his time at the club.

He told the club's official website: "We do have healthy competition and players only stay out of the team whilst it is doing well and winning matches. When it isn't they have every right to stake their claim and hopefully the game will give them that.

"The players that haven't been fully involved have been fully professional in everything that they have done and they have enough hits and sessions under their belts to warrant a place."

Carlisle have been on an abysmal run that has seen them lose their last four games and slump to eleventh in League One after making an impressive start. A 2-1 reverse at home to Tranmere at the weekend followed on the back of defeats against Walsall, Leeds and Scunthorpe. Both sides, therefore, will be hoping to find some players that are capable of dragging them out of their respective troubles tommorow night.

The Cumbrians performance against Tranmere was as bad as Dale's against Dagenham. Boss John Ward said: "It’s our fourth defeat on the trot, nobody likes that. We have gone a goal behind at home before and reacted well, but we didn’t get that from our players today. I can accept defeat, it’s part of the game, but there has to be a bit of dignity involved. It’s not acceptable when that’s missing.”

Dave Flitcroft is expecting both sides to make a fist of the game, with both managers hoping that a convincing performance in the cup can help boost results in the league. Flitcroft said: "The players' pride has been wounded and the best way to take it on the chin and do something about it is the next game and that is Carlisle.

"They are an excellent footballing team with some superb players and you hope that our players raise their game and raise their mental state and put in the type of performance that we all know they are capable of."