Excitement as Dale draw Oldham in the Cup

Kelvin Lomax will return to Spotland for Oldham

Excitement for the new season grew for Rochdale fans today as Dale drew local rivals Oldham Athletic in the first round of the Carling Cup.

The tie, to be played at Spotland, is potentially a real money spinner for Dale with the possibility that the Oldham fans will fill the away end, while many of the new found Dale fans from the Wembley play-off run could be tempted back to Spotland.

The game will be the second of Dale's season when it is played during the week beginning Monday 11 August, with Tuesday night (12 August) the likely date for the tie.

Dale have never faced Oldham in the League Cup before and the tie more than compensates for the fact the sides will not face each other during pre-season, with the annual Rose Bowl friendly not being contested this year.

The game gives Dale youngsters Kallum Higginbotham and Marcus Holness a chance to impress against their former club, while Kelvin Lomax, who enjoyed a successful loan spell with Dale last year, will return to Spotland among Oldham's ranks.