Rochdale manager Keith Hill says he has confidence in his depleted squad to end their Sheffield United hoodoo.
Sixth-placed Dale will be without seven first-team players for the trip to Bramall Lane (3pm) to face a team that have beaten them six out of six times in their history.
Hill was keen to send out the message that he believes in his squad players to put in a performance in South Yorkshire and build on Tuesday night’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy win over Chesterfield.
“I’d rather play these games with the players that we’ve got available,” he said.
“If I feel they’re doing the right things then they’ll maintain their starting position in the team.
“I’d rather go with the players that we’ve got rather than get somebody in on the loan market and bring players in cold, somebody who’s not used to how we do things.
“We’ve received two injuries from Tuesday night: Andy Cannon and Rhys Bennett, which I’m deeply disappointed about but it does create an opportunity for other players.”
Hill’s side will be aiming to maintain their position in the play-off places against a Blades side who will be looking to leapfrog them from seventh spot.
Calvin Andrew, Bennett, Joe Bunney, Cannon, Ian Henderson and Olly Lancashire all miss out, while Callum Camps is away on international duty.
Meanwhile, Nigel Adkins’ Sheffield United side have had a reasonable if rather inconsistent start to the season, winning three of their five home games.
However Adkins is all too wary of the threat Dale will pose on Saturday.
“Rochdale will come with ideas of their own and under Keith are a very good side,” he said.
“They had a good season last year following promotion and this term they will certain have aspirations to be there or thereabouts, so they will believe in what they do and as always we will be prepared for them.”
His United side, who secured a 1-0 victory in this fixture last season, will be without John Brayford, David Edgar, Bob Harris, James Wallace and Florent Cuvelier for tomorrow’s clash.
Dale star-man Peter Vincenti has once again been in the news for the right reasons as he picked up the League One Player of the Month award for September thanks to his four league goals in five games during the month.
Image courtesy of Official Rochdale via YouTube, with thanks.
