Rochdale are looking for an historic victory tonight as they seek to win away at Port Vale for the first time in their 106-year history.
The signs are ominous for Dale going into this Johnstone’s Paint Trophy fixture as the last time they won in the competition was with the help of a penalty shoot-out in 2005.
Dale were knocked out on penalties by Bury last season and, despite being a sometimes maligned competition, Rochdale manager Keith Hill is taking the second round tie seriously.
“It is an important game for the football club and for the players. I don’t intend to make too many changes. I don’t see any reason why I should we’re in the early part of the season,” Hill told The Dale Player.
Dale’s five-game unbeaten run came to end at Portsmouth on Saturday and Hill is expecting a positive response from his players.
“I think players have been absolutely superb on creating the run (that ended on Saturday) and we will bounce back.
“We are not going to win every game but our response to losing games is very important, we don’t want any lone-wolves amongst the squad and it’s important that the players who represent the Football Club probably represent it a bit better (than they did on Saturday).”
Port Vale were promoted from League Two last season and sit 12th in League One after veteran striker Lee Hughes scored a 90th minute leveller in their 1-1 draw with Bristol City on Saturday.
Hill will undoubtedly be telling his defenders to keep tabs on Hughes’ strike partner Tom Pope who netted three times against Dale last season.
Despite their abysmal record at Vale Park, Dale can at least take heart from last season’s 2-2 in Staffordshire, which came courtesy of a late long-range equaliser by Andrew Tutte.
Image courtesy of TexacoUKFC via YouTube , with thanks
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