Rochdale Match Stats Preview

History of the Rochdale v Carlisle United fixture

Carlisle pack their bags to visit Rochdale at Spotland on Tuesday evening, hoping to improve on an average previous return from this fixture. Of the 50 games played, the Cumbrians have recorded 14 wins and drawn 12 matches, while Rochdale have come away with 24 victories.

Last season at the 'Dale United took the lead after 25 minutes through a Marcus Holness own goal, before the home side equalised five minutes later thanks to Joe Thompson. Matty Done then made it 2-1 to the 'Dale on 49 minutes before two Carlisle goals after 60 and 65 minutes from Liam Noble and Matty Robson respectively gave the Blues a 3-2 win and all three points as 3,762 spectators looked on.

The second last time the two sides met each other at Spotland came in October 2008, where the two teams cancelled each other out in a 2-2 draw in a Johnstone's Paint Trophy Northern Section Second Round tie. The Blues taking the lead as early as the fourth minute through Michael Bridges, only for the home side to then race into a 2-1 lead by the 16 minute mark thanks to two quick goals from Lee Thorpe and Chris Dagnall.

United though found an equaliser in front of 1,608 fans from Gary Madine's long range 71st minute strike and so the tie went to a penalty shootout. Grant Smith with the first Carlisle spot-kick and Simon Hackney with the fifth United penalty both hitting Rochdale goalkeeper Sam Russell's woodwork as the home side went through to the next round after converting all their four taken spot-kicks.

One well remembered league game between the teams at Spotland came in early May 2006 as the Cumbrians all but assured themselves of winning the 2005-06 League Two title with a 2-0 win thanks to late first-half goals from Danny Livesey and then Peter Murphy as 4,439 spectators looked on, with a large amount of those being Blues fans housed in the Wilbutts Lane stand.

On the other side of the coin though another match of note played between the two at the 'Dale came in March 2004 with Rochdale running out comfortable 2-0 winners in a Division Three encounter. The United contingent made up pretty much half of the 4,775 crowd at Spotland that day but it counted for nothing in the end as it was just another away defeat in Carlisle's horrendous relegation season.

It was certainly a game full of incident though with Matt Glennon sent off after 32 minutes for a professional foul on that man Grant Holt. 'Dale's Gary Jones coolly stepping up to slot home the penalty as United faced playing the next 68 minutes with ten men. It was then Holt who rubbed salt into Cumbrian wounds just after the hour mark when he made it 2-0 to the home side and all but condemned the Blues to life in the Nationwide Conference.

Carlisle's biggest win of their 14 at Spotland came as far back as the opening day of the 1951-52 season in the old Third Division North, United winning 4-0 thanks to an Allan Ashman hat-trick and a single strike from Willie Hogan. As for Rochdale, well they have two 6-0 victories to show against Carlisle over the years, one coming in 1946-47 in Division Three North while the other occured in 2000-01 in Division Three (fourth tier level), United already 4-0 down by half-time in that game.

Recent encounters between the teams

For a detailed analysis of the complete head-to-head record between the two sides, click here

Recent respective form guides

Rochdale are not in the best of form at home of late, with two wins, two draws and two defeats in their last six matches at Spotland. The goals for column just outweighs the goals against over this period at eleven to ten. Carlisle meanwhile have an average recent record on the road, with two wins, two draws, and two defeats in their last six games away from Brunton Park. The Cumbrians have scored eight goals in these games and have conceded nine.

After just two league games this season Rochdale are hovering perilously just above the relegation zone, in 20th place, having picked up just one point so far. Carlisle on the other hand have won one and lost one for their three points and that sees them further up the League One table, in 12th position.

Current overall team form

For a detailed analysis of current team form guides in this or any division, click here

FootyMad's prediction ...

The home form of the 'Dale is closely matched by the away form of Carlisle, so the Footymad panel can certainly United gleaning a point from their game against Rochdale....... No-score draw

Sequence statistics

For a detailed analysis of current team sequences throughout the leagues, click here