Dale confident ahead of Northampton trip

Photo: Jon Coluccio

Dale boss Keith Hill and assistant David Flitcroft are buoyant mood ahead of this Saturday's trip to Northampton.

Rochdale go into this Saturday's trip to Northampton Town full of confidence on the back of a three match unbeaten run.

Wins against Bury and Torquay, with a comeback from three goals down to draw at Morecambe sandwiched inbetween, has seen Keith Hill's men lift themselves towards the play-off places in a still tightly congested League Two table.

Hill said: "We deserved the three points against Torquay and that sets us up nicely for the Northampton game.

"Confidence is high and we have had a good week off the back of a win. That encourages a lot of confidence.

"We have to make sure that the players are prepared and that we are all singing from the same song sheet and that they are all versed in what Northampton have to offer.

"It is another game that we are expected to go into to have a chance of winning."

Hill has no fresh injury concerns going into the encounter at Sixfields and is likely to field the same side that came out on top against Torquay. Marcus Holness missed that game with a virus, but he played for the reserves in midweek and will come back into the Dale squad.

Managerless Northampton have suffered a stuttering start to their campaign after they were relegated from League One last season. A poor run of results culminated in the sacking of Stuart Gray following a defeat against Barnet. Ian Sampson has taken over the reigns in a caretaker role and his was a baptism of fire with a 5-2 defeat at league moneybags Notts County last Saturday.

Reports from certain sections of the Cobblers support are suggesting that this Saturday represents a must win game for Northampton. Sampson has urged fans to give his side their full backing, while midfielder John Curtis wants Sampson to be given more time to prove himself capable of managing the side full time.

This will be the first game between Dale and Northampton have played each other since 2006 following the Cobblers' three year stint in League One. Both games in 2005/2006 ended in draws, while one has to journey back ten years to the last time Dale won at Sixfields, Clive Platt scoring the only goal of the game in October 1999.

Visit Rochdale Online over the course of the weekend for team news, half-time and full-time match reports, and action photographs.