Rivalries reacquaint at Spotland as Rochdale host Oldham. Four points and two places separate the sides, so a close encounter is expected.
Rochdale's 102-year stay in the Football League was ended in 2023 when they were relegated to the National League. James McNulty's side limped to an 11th-place finish in a season of consolidation, but Dale look well-versed to mount a playoff charge this year.
The 39-year-old is inexperienced in the coaching game and is yet to find a way to drill consistency into his side. Rochdale have won nine, drawn three and lost six of their games and sit ten points off the top, two clear of Yeovil in 8th.
Of their 27 goals this season, deadly duo Devante Rodney and Kairo Mitchell have scored 15 goals. They will need to be at the top of the game if they are to break down a resilient Oldham defence.
The year before Rochdale were relegated, former Premier League side Oldham ended their 116-year stay in the Football League after getting relegated in a dismal season.
The Latics came 12th in the first season in the National League before a 10th-place finish last year. Micky Mellon has been criticised for his pragmatism since arriving last October, but the 52-year-old has plenty of promotion expertise and has his side in a title race this year.
Oldham are fourth in the league, six points off leaders Forest Green and are five unbeaten. With 17 goals conceded, Mellon's side are one of the best defensive teams in the league, while also scoring 29 goals. Like Rochdale, Oldham also have a clinical strike partnership with James Norwood and Mike Fondop scoring 13 goals between them.
The meeting at Spotland last year was an entertaining one, with Oldham running out 3-4 winners in a topsy-turvey affair.
With Oldham the better team but away from home, this match looks extremely tight to call. James Norwood came in for criticism for eating at Nando's instead of watching his side play, but the 34-year-old responded with a post of his own. He then went onto score a hat trick against Tamworth and looks good odds to score again on Saturday.
Love a lunchtime Nandos pic.twitter.com/utLPxArUaR
— James Norwood (@jnorwood_10) October 30, 2024
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