Rochdale vs Chester - Match Preview

Photo: Jon Coluccio

Clark Keltie is available following a one game suspension

Dale will be hoping to end a three game winless league run at home to Chester tomorrow night (Tuesday 21 October, kick off 7.45pm).

Keith Hill's men recorded a victory in their last home game on penalties against Carlisle in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy but their fine performance in that game came on the back of a dismal league defeat to Dagenham and since then they have thrown away leads to draw at Lincoln and Morecambe.

Hill said after the Morecambe game on Saturday: "From a footballing aspect we are doing nicely but from a success aspect we are in danger of becoming also rans. We are pleasing on the eye but not converting our opportunities.

"We want to be successful and the players have got to see the job through."

Dale will face a Chester side that could be tired as the game is their second in three days following defeat to Port Vale yesterday. Like their opponents, City have struggled to convert draws into victory of late. They are without a league win in five games but have drawn three of those fixtures.

Clark Keltie returns to the Dale squad following a one game suspension but might not come straight back into the starting eleven. Ciaran Toner impressed at Morecambe and the midfielder started ahead of Keltie in the games against Carlisle and Lincoln.

Nathan Stanton is a doubt after hobbling off in the second half at the weekend but Marcus Holness deputised competently as Stanton's replacement and will start the game if Stanton does not quite make it.

Long term injury victims Jon Shaw and Simon Ramsden remain on the sidelines, while Mark Jones, who made it back onto the substitute's bench on Saturday after recovering from a strain, will hoping for his first action in a Dale shirt.

Hill said that while his squad numbers remain small, he will not be afraid to promote some of the younger players into the first team squad.

"We are down to the bare bones and it is a bit of a worry because we have tried to bring players in and we can't seem to do it.

"It is a concern but whilst we are down on numbers it is an opportunity for someone else and it might be a chance to promote from within and we are certainly not afraid of doing that."