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If it's the basement of the Football League, then Rochdale's in there somewhere. They haven't left the division in over 30 years, and are tipped by most to endure another mediocre season this time round.
Saturday's game will be the first meeting between the clubs since February 1997 when just over a thousand people turned up for a drab 0-0 draw. Overall the Bulls have the edge in 40 competitive matches with 14 wins to 10, and Rochdale have not recorded a win in seven meetings, their last win coming in 1993 with a 2-0 win at Spotland.
Rochdale recorded their first point, and first league goal, of the season in a 1-1 draw with Accrington on Saturday to break a run of four straight 1-0 losses - including defeats to title favourites Walsall and Swindon. Their dangerman is Ricky Lambert - 22 goal top scorer last season who is yet to open his account this time round. Bulls fans will be familiar with former Kiddy pair Mark Jackson and Iyseden Christie, who moved to Rochdale in the January transfer window for a reputed £50,000 fee after Dale had sold Grant Holt to Notts Forest for £300,000. Christie has failed to replace Holt's goals, with just two in 20 for the well travelled forward.
The Bulls will be looking for at least a point from this game which could be Scott Tynan's last. His months loan will expire the day before the next match and the Rushden stopper, who has performed admirably in the last couple of games after a shaky start with unfamiliar players, will have to extend his loan before Thursday's transfer deadline in order to play on.
Rochdale vs Hereford United, Spotland, Saturday September 2nd, 3.00pm.
