Posh Preview
Posh head into the Rochdale game on a
run of four wins to nil in all competitions and should be well rested having
not had a competitive fixture for 11 days. Gaffer Darren Ferguson will be
hoping the extended break will not dent the momentum his side had gathered and
looking forward to the match said:
“They know what they are doing in
possession and when they haven’t got the ball. They will be tough opponents.
“We will obviously be confident, but
I’ve already spoken to the players about not treating Rochdale any differently
to Sunderland.
“There cannot be a case of believing
‘ah it’s only Rochdale’ because there will be times when they have good
possession of the ball and they are capable of hurting us if we let our
standards drop.
“I also watched Rochdale’s last win at
Southend and they were again excellent. They play through the lines and every
player knows their job.
“Obviously I would have preferred to
have a game last Saturday as we had some good momentum after three wins in a
row. The lads look in great nick though and they should be fresh and raring to
go at the start of a big week.
“The good thing about having no league
game is being able to see the players who haven’t been in the side in action in
other matches, and I’ve been pleased with them.”
Team News
Frazer Blake-Tracy remains
unavailable following a calf injury picked up in the week building up to Posh’s
last league game against Sunderland. Despite a few unnamed players picking up
‘niggles’ it is expected that the remainder of the squad should be available
for selection. Ferguson’s biggest selection headache is likely to be at right
back where Nathan Thompson is pushing his first league start after playing 60
minutes against Northampton in the Leasing.com trophy.
Rochdale have no fresh injury
concerns going into the game and are likely to name a similar side to the one
which won 3-0 at Southend United having made wholesale changes to the side
which lost a midweek fixture to Manchester City U21s in the Leasing.com Trophy.
Opposition Report
Rochdale have enjoyed a promising start
to the season and are currently sitting just two places below Posh at 11th
in the table having won 2 and drawn 3 of their opening 6 fixtures. ‘The Dale’
have also earned themselves a reputation for playing an eye-catching brand of
short passing, attractive football with some commentators now referring to them
as ‘Guardiola’s Rochdale’ with only a slight hint of irony.
Likely 11
Robert Sanchez
Jimmy Keohane Jimmy McNulty Eoghan O’Connell Rhys
Norrington-Davies
Aaron Morley M.J. Williams
Stephen Dooley Callum Camps Matt Done
Ian Henderson
Style of play
characteristics
Short
Passing
Maintain
Possession
Work
ball into box
High
press
Play
with width and focus attacks down the flanks
Attacking
fullbacks
Weak
aerially
Danger Man
Experienced forward Ian
Henderson notched his 100th League goal for Rochdale during
their 3-0 win against Southend United last time out. Now 34, Henderson may not
possess searing pace however his link up play is key to Dale’s possession based
style and he remains their most potent goal threat when in and around the area.
Ones to Watch
Attacking fullback Rhys Norrington-Davies is a major
threat down the Rochdale left. Good in possession and keen to dribble forwards,
Norrington-Davies is vital to his sides width and attacking impetus, often
taking up positions as an auxiliary winger in advance of a slightly narrower
attacking midfielder. The left back has already put up some impressive numbers
this season with 1 goal and 2 assists. He also averages a whopping 1.7 key
passes per game alongside 1 successful dribble and 5.2 crosses each match.
Defensive midfielder M.J. Williams is the backbone of the
side. Strong in the tackle and excellent in possession he is key to both
breaking up opposition attacks and starting his own sides build up play. In
possession he averages 53.2 successful passes per game and has impressively connected
with 2 out of every 3 long passes he attempts.
Key Matchups
Ivan Toney v Jimmy McNulty: For all
their positive characteristics this season Rochdale have struggled to deal with
aerial attacks. Expect Posh to look to capitalise on this with long diagonal
balls aimed in the direction of Ivan Toney. Both McNulty and O’Connell have
been far from dominant in the air. McNulty especially, who is 5cm shorter than
Toney, has won an average of 3 aerial duels per game, losing 1.3. For contrast Beevers
has won an average of 6 aerial duels losing just 0.8. Expect Toney, who himself
averages 6.3 successful aerial duels a match, to target McNulty in the air and
how McNulty copes Posh’s human bulldozer will be a key dynamic of the game.
Callum Camps v Louis Reed: Attacking
midfielder Camps is arguably Rochdale’s most in form player. He is vital to
their attacking drive and has 2 goals and 3 assists to his name already this
season. Often arriving into the box late and pushing up into a second striker
role alongside Henderson, Camps has taken more shots than any other Rochdale
player and also averages a very impressive 1.5 key passes a match. Reed, as
Posh’s deepest midfielder, has demonstrated much improved defensive skills this
season and how well he marshals Camp we be vital to Posh’s hopes of nullifying
Dale’s attacking threat.
Head-to-Head record
Won 25 Drawn 16
Lost 12
Last Time Out
Steve Evans’s Posh side secured a 2-1
win in a January confrontation most notable for Lee Tomlin scoring his first
goal since returning to the club on loan 12 days earlier. 10 of the 17 Posh
players who featured in the matchday squad that day have since left the club
with Toney and Maddison likely to be the only 2 players who started that game
in the first XI tomorrow.
Score Prediction
3-1 Posh. Although
Rochdale are a hugely impressive side, Posh are bang inform. Rochdale’s open and
expansive style of play should also suit Posh perfectly as they will look to win
the ball high up the pitch before attacking at speed to exploit the space
available. Expect a hugely entertaining game between two sides exhibiting very
modern playing philosophies.
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