Dale are off to the Lancashire Coast this time around as Fleetwood Town await.
Our hosts’ unbeaten start to the season came to an end last Saturday with defeat at high-flying Barnet. Their last triumph came in the Carabao Cup, where they have been drawn at home to Premier League champions Arsenal in the next round.
ADMISSION DETAILS
Tickets are available in the seated and standing sections of Highbury Stadium.
Please note that tickets need collecting from Dale’s Club Shop before 4pm on Friday, where they can then be claimed from Fleetwood’s matchday ticket office at last resort.
Click HERE for the full details.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Due to the international break, all of Saturday’s EFL matches will be shown live on Sky Sports +.
The Ratcliffe Bar will not be showing the game live for those not attending the game, due to a private function.
Otherwise, tune in from home with Dale Player as our commentators talk you through the action direct from Fleetwood.
Click HERE to sign up for monthly or yearly passes.
TEAM NEWS
Ian mentioned on Tuesday that the club were awaiting scan results for Laurence Maguire who limped off with an injury picked up in the warm-ups. He will be unavailable.
Devante Rodney returned in midweek and is available for selection this weekend. Bryant Bilongo and Sam Beckwith are nearing returns.
Ryan East, Ethan Ebanks-Landell, Casey Pettit and Will Jenkins are all on the long-term absentee list.
THE OPPOSITION
Overview – Fleetwood Town are into just their third straight season in League Two, having been relegated from a ten-year stint in the third tier in 2024. Their attempts to bounce back have stagnated somewhat with comfortable 14th and 15th finishes so far. Under new stewardship, their form has taken a real upturn dating back to April going on a 13-game unbeaten run across both seasons. They sit 11th with just one defeat so far which came last time out at first-placed Barnet. Dale can draw level on points with a victory at Highbury because of the accumulation of draws so far.
Manager – Matt Lawlor – 38yo, appointed Mar 2026. The former Waterford manager first joined the club in 2019 as a youth coach before retiring as a player. He progressed to the Under-21s and took charge as interim in 2023 for one game. After spells back in Ireland, he then worked under Pete Wild last season and was given the interim job once Wild had been sacked. After a positive end to the season, Lawlor joined permanently in the summer.
Last Game – Oldham Athletic 1-0 Fleetwood Town (Jersey Mike’s Trophy).
Top League Goalscorer (2026/27) – Aaron Loupalo-Bi, Ronan Coughlan & Will Davies (2).
New Signings
James Pradic (GK).
Danny Andrew (LB).
Jake Batty (LB).
Jesse Dempsey (LB).
Kane Thompson-Sommers (CM).
Andy Cannon (CM).
Noah Mawene (CM).
Sean Costelloe (CM).
Adam Murphy (CM).
Josh Robertson (CM).
Josh Thomas (FW).
Aaron Loupalo-Bi (FW).
PLAYED FOR BOTH
There’ll be two current Dale players coming up against their former club this weekend. Firstly, Cian Hayes who came through the youth ranks at Fleetwood, making his senior debut in 2019.
The second of Cian’s loan spells came at the Crown Oil Arena in 2023, scoring eight times in the National League.
A shorter stint at the club was the case for Mani Dieseruvwe. As a teenager, the striker made his EFL debut with The Cod Army in 2013, before returning to his parent club Sheffield Wednesday.
We also say hello to a familiar face in Andy Cannon, who signed for the side in red during the summer. The midfielder progressed through Dale’s academy, spending five years in the senior side.
WE’VE MET BEFORE
Games Played – 20
Rochdale Wins – 5
Draws – 8
Fleetwood Wins – 7
Most recent matchup – Fleetwood Town 1-0 Dale (10th April 2021).
First ever matchup – Dale 2-2 Fleetwood Town (4th September 2012).
HIGHBURY STADIUM
Take a read of Fleetwood’s first timer fan guide HERE.
OFFICIALS
Referee | Alex Chilowicz.
Assistants | Alex Gray & Ryan Aldred.
Fourth Official | Scott Henry.
