League Two leaders Rochdale will be expecting to be the toast of the town when they visit ‘pub side’ Mansfield at Field Mill on Saturday.
But Mansfield Town loan player Darryl Westlake says his team do not fear the dangerous Dale side.
Dale trounced Mansfield 3-0 at Spotland back in December and are flying-high at the top of League Two while the Stags are in 12th position.
Westlake, on-loan from FA Cup semi-finalists Sheffield United, believes his side will have the upper hand when they face Dale – having already taken four points off promotion-chasers Chesterfield and Fleetwood Town at home this season.
“Rochdale will be a tough test for us, but we know we can beat them,” Westlake, who is on-loan from Sheffield United, told The Stags player.
“When the top teams come to our place we show them what we are about so we’ve got nothing to lose.
“It will be a very tough game they’ve got some good players but we’ve got nothing to fear against them even though they are top of the table.”
Keith Hill’s men are known in League Two for their exciting passing brand of football but may have to withstand an aerial bombardment on Saturday.
Mansfield, promoted from the Conference Premier last season, have been accused of being overly-physical and direct by several opposition managers this season.
Some opponents have even branded Town ‘a pub side’ – something their manager Paul Cox refutes.
“It amazes me that since I’ve been here we get labelled (that) we are a direct side,” said Cox. “I think it is a cheap shot.
“But it’s never bothered me I’m not here to make friends or put my arm round people.
“We are in a tough, old, results-based business where you are deemed good or bad based on the number of games you win or lose.
“We try and win a game whichever way we can.
“If people say we play a certain way, it’s their job to counter-act the way we are.”
Dale certainly had no problems dealing with Mansfield’s physicality on Boxing Day 2013 at Spotland when they ran out convincing 3-0 winners courtesy of a Scott Hogan double and a Matt Lund goal.
Level on points with Scunthorpe at the top of the division, Rochdale need three wins from their final five games to clinch a third-ever promotion, providing Fleetwood or Burton fail to drop any points.
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