National cups are something special for many teams and supporters. Today's match will decide whether it's Rochdale or Salford City that keep their silverware dream alive.
It's no vacation for neither Rochdale nor Salford City as both were in action only a few days ago. Expect some tired legs on the pitch and/or possibly some changes to the lineups.
Rochdale form and stats
Rochdale participated in EFL Trophy the last season, where they reached the group stage.The home fans haven’t been spoiled with victories in the League Two this season. Rochdale have only managed 1 win, 1 draw and 4 losses from their games here at Crown Oil Arena.
A nice win for Rochdale last time playing, versus Barrow. That was also a home game and the match ended 2-1 with Kelly and Quigley scoring for the victors. Attacking player Quigley outdid all the other players in that game and was awarded a match rating of 8.01 out of 10. Quigley scored one goal, hit three key passes and dribled past the opponent 1 of 1 times.
A strong away win before that one, visiting Newport County and winning 1-0.This is expected to be a close game, with Rochdale perhaps considered small favourites due to their home advantage. Looking back at earlier matches similar to this one (expected to be close with Rochdale as a small favourite), we find 14 games. Rochdale has won 8 of these, drawn 6 and lost 0.
Some members of the home team might already be thinking of their next match, the League Two game versus AFC Wimbledon in only four days. This game is also played here at Crown Oil Arena.
Rochdale have scored {5 league goals} here from 6 matches, not a lot. Rochdale have conceded 8 in these home matches.
Salford City form and stats
Last season their EFL Trophy adventure ended in the group stage.Salford City's travelling support has been rewarded for their time and money so far this season, having witnessed Salford City collect 13 points from their 6 away matches in the League Two. 4 victories and 1 draw have created these points (and only 1 defeat).
Salford's previous game was their home loss versus Bradford City (0-1). Vassell, who plays in defense, got the "man of the match" on his team with the rating 7.32. Vassell won 10 of 12 duels.
Ahead of that match was the victory versus Northampton Town at their stadium, the result 1-0.So, this is expected to be a close game, an even contest. Looking at earlier matches with Salford City playing away and similar expectations, we found 17 relevant matches. Results were 7 Salford City wins, 3 draws and 7 defeats.
After this away game Salford City return home for a League Two game against Stockport County. That game is only four sleeps after this.
Salford find the net regularly in their away games. 8 goals from 6 away fixtures in the league. It's not easy to score on Salford City as they have only conceded 5 goals from these away games.
Head 2 Head
Statistics for the previous three meetings involving these two sides are: zero wins for Rochdale, two draws and one win for Salford City. Over 2,5 goals: one time; under 2,5 goals: two games.
Top Goalscorers
  S. Quigley 4 goals | D. Rodney 3 goals |  R. Watson 3 goals |
Rochdale missing players
Salford City missing players
| Rochdale | Salford City | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 10 | Played | P | 12 | 25 | ||
| 9 | 3 | Won | W | 6 | 10 | ||
| 3 | 1 | Drew | D | 1 | 7 | ||
| 13 | 6 | Lost | L | 5 | 8 | ||
| 30 | 13 | Scored | S | 20 | 36 | ||
| 37 | 15 | Conceded | C | 21 | 33 | ||
| 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 92% | 92% | ||
| 64% | 70% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 67% | 64% | ||
| 48% | 50% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 67% | 52% | ||
| 20% | 20% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 33% | 28% | ||
| 20% | 20% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 33% | 16% | ||
| 40% | 60% | BTTS | BTTS | 58% | 52% | ||
| 24% | 20% | Clean Sheets | C S | 25% | 28% | ||
| 36% | 20% | Failed to Score | F T | 25% | 28% | ||
| 4.6 | 5.2 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 4 | 4.5 | ||
| 5.1 | 3.9 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 4.6 | 5.2 | ||
| 2.1 | 2.3 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 1.9 | 1.6 | ||
| 0 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 0 | 0 | ||
| 9.7 | 11.5 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 11.9 | 11.8 | ||
| 3.1 | 3.4 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 4.1 | 4 | ||
| 39% | 38% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 29% | 30% | ||
| 12 | 9.9 | Shots against (avg) | S A | 12.7 | 12 | ||
| 3.1 | 3.2 | Shots on Target against (avg) | S O | 3.8 | 3.5 | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Rochdale | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 2 | Accrington Stanley | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | Salford City | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 4 | Liverpool U21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Stevenage | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 32 |
| 2 | Leyton Orient | 13 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 13 | 30 |
| 3 | Northampton Town | 14 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 23 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 27 |
| 4 | Mansfield Town | 13 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 21 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 26 |
| 5 | Bradford City | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 24 |
| 6 | Carlisle United | 13 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 19 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 24 |
| 7 | Salford City | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 24 |
| 8 | Swindon Town | 14 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 15 | 13 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 23 |
| 9 | Tranmere Rovers | 13 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 16 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 22 |
| 10 | Grimsby Town | 13 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 22 |
| 11 | Barrow | 13 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 16 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 1 | 21 |
| 12 | Doncaster Rovers | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 18 | 19 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 10 | -1 | 21 |
| 13 | Crewe Alexandra | 13 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 | -2 | 17 |
| 14 | Sutton United | 14 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 13 | 17 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 10 | -4 | 17 |
| 15 | Walsall | 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 16 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 16 |
| 16 | Stockport County | 13 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 19 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 11 | -5 | 12 |
| 17 | AFC Wimbledon | 13 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 20 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 13 | -6 | 12 |
| 18 | Gillingham | 13 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | -8 | 12 |
| 19 | Newport County | 14 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 13 | 19 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 8 | -6 | 11 |
| 20 | Harrogate Town | 13 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 17 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 9 | -7 | 11 |
| 21 | Rochdale | 13 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 19 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 11 | -9 | 11 |
| 22 | Colchester United | 13 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 10 | -8 | 9 |
| 23 | Crawley Town | 13 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 23 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 12 | -11 | 9 |
| 24 | Hartlepool United | 14 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 12 | 25 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 17 | -13 | 9 |
