After the heights of a high-profile FA Cup clash with Stoke City, Rochdale AFC return to League One normality with a trip to struggling Coventry City on Saturday.
Having succumbed 4-1 to the Potters in their midweek fourth round clash, Dale are aiming to get back on track when they visit Steven Pressley’s side at the Ricoh Arena.
Keith Hill’s men are currently sixth in the division, and assistant manager Chris Beech can’t wait to push on against such challenging opposition.
Speaking to the club’s website, Beech said: “It’ll be great to get on the coach on Saturday morning fully prepared.
“And after getting to the ground, seeing what we can do against excellent players at an unbelievable stadium.”
Rochdale ran out 1-0 winners when Coventry visited Spotland earlier in the season, with Ian Henderson scoring the decisive penalty.
This time around, Febian Brandy could make his debut for the Rochdale while Hill is still without Matty Lund due to long-term injury.
Beech added: “There’s no easy ride at all [in this league]. You can’t get too far in front of yourselves because we know how League One punishes you when you’re not at full tilt.
“The standard is very good and it’s very competitive. We’ve got to make sure that we’re very respectful.
“At the same time, we’re confident in what we do but we’ll have to make sure that we turn up for work.”
The Sky Blues are winless in five home league games, and sit three points outside the relegation zone.
Pressley could hand on-loan forward Dominic Samuel his debut, having signed from reading until April 28.
Three points at the Ricoh could leapfrog Rochdale ahead of Chesterfield and into fifth as they continue to defy expectations and challenge at the business end of the table.
Away from Saturday’s upcoming fixture, Dale have chosen Jamie Allen’s thunderous volley against Wycombe Wanderers as their nomination for the Mitre Goal of the Year competition.
Main image courtesy of OfficialRochdaleAFC, via YouTube, with thanks.
