Lincoln vs Rochdale - Match Preview

Photo: Jon Coluccio

Lee Thorpe

Despite being given a selection headache, Rochdale manager Keith Hill had already picked his side to face Lincoln immediately after Tuesday night's Johnstone's Paint Trophy victory over Carlisle.

Hill would not give any names but there is a strong possibility that at least three of the men who came into the side for the Carlisle game could retain their places.

Lee Thorpe put in a man-of-the-match display and scored Dale's opener, and the big striker is expected to carry that form into tomorrow night's game against his former side. Thorpe's strike partner Chris Dagnall would also be unfortunate to miss out after his return to form saw the ex-Tranmere man also get on the scoresheet.

Of the others that came in for the Carlisle game, Joe Thompson impressed on the right wing to give Will Buckley food for thought, Ciaran Toner was strong in midfield and Marcus Holness recovered from a shaky start to put in a solid second half display.

Holness may retain his place after Tom Kennedy was withdrawn at half time with a slight knock. The left back is expected to recover in time but if he does not then Holness could retain the right back berth and Scott Wiseman could switch to left back, as he did when he came of the substitutes' bench on Tuesday night.

Clark Keltie should come straight back into the side but with Toner's impressive performance and the fact that Keltie is suspended for Dale's next game at Morecambe, it would be no surprise if the ex-Grimsby man retained his place.

Hill said: "We want competition for places and we need players to know that if they are not playing to the expected standards we have people ready and available to bring in. Nobody is guaranteed a place they have to earn it. They earn it match in match in out not from history or what they did last season.

"It is a great problem to have but I have already selected my side!"

Lincoln's recent up-turn in fortunes has prompted their manager Peter Jackson to claim that his side are capable of promotion this season. They go into the fixture unbeaten in their last three games.

Jackson told supporters at a fan's forum this week: "I put myself under pressure by saying that with the nine new signings we would get promotion and go on and do well. I still firmly believe in what I said.

"We've not hit top form yet by any standards, but I'm really, really pleased with the last three or four weeks."

Jackson will be without Frank Sinclair and Martin Pemberton through injury, but Stefan Oakes could return after playing forty-five minutes for the reserves in midweek, while Lee Frecklington is expected to recover from a shoulder injury sustained last weekend to come straight back into the side.