PREVIEW: Sky Blues play host to Rochdale

The Dale are the Sky Blues latest opponents in Sky Bet League One...

15 November 2019

The Sky Blues play hosts to Rochdale on Saturday afternoon. Here’s everything you need to know about our Northern visitors.

Fact File:

Name: Rochdale AFC
Founded: 1907
Stadium: Spotland
Capacity: 10,249
Nickname: The Dale
Address: Sandy Lane, Rochdale, Lancashire, OL11 5DR

The Opposition:

Visitors Rochdale arrive at St Andrew’s looking to climb from their current position of 15th in League One. The Dale, who managed to hold Manchester United to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford earlier in the season, boast a fairly decent away record this season.

They have won 10 points from 8 games on their travels this term. Youngster Luke Matheson has been attracting attention from some of the world’s biggest clubs - he could be one to watch.

Manager - Brian Barry-Murphy:

Brian Barry Murphy is just making his first steps into management at Rochdale, after taking over from Keith Hill earlier in the year.

Originally caretaker manager, he was given the permanent job after winning 8 points from four games.

The Irishman, who played for Preston North End, Sheffield Wednesday, Bury and Rochdale as a player, has won a total of 14 of his 35 games in charge so far; Coventry will be hoping to reduce this on Saturday.

Last Six Games:

Bradford City 1-2 Rochdale AFC

Wrexham 0-0 Rochdale AFC

Ipswich Town 0-1 Rochdale AFC

Rochdale AFC 1-2 Bristol Rovers

Oxford United 3-0 Rochdale AFC

Rochdale AFC 2-0 MK Dons

Last Time We Met:

The last meeting between the two sides came earlier this year when City travelled to Spotland looking to continue a good run of form.

There was a shock amongst the starting eleven, as injuries to duo Lee Burge and Liam O’Brien meant that City drafted in Birmingham City ‘keeper, David Stockdale on an emergency loan.

Stockdale kept a clean sheet in the game and helped City on their way to three points when Jordy Hiwula slotted the only goal of the game.

Club Connections:

Jamie Allen

The Sky Blues summer signing is yet to make his competitive debut at his new club due to injury, but his signing was met with delight from the Sky Blue Army back in July.

The Rochdale born centre midfielder came through the Greater Manchester club’s youth system, which he joined aged just nine years-old.

He went on to make 133 appearances for The Dale, scoring 11 goals and becoming the clubs captain at 20 years old. Following four years at Rochdale, he joined Burton Albion, who were at the time in the Championship. He was a huge hit at the Pirelli Stadium during his two years at the club.

Clive Platt

After coming through the youth ranks at Walsall, Platt became Rochdale’s record signing when he moved to Spotland for £100,000 in 1999.

The 6”4’ front man bagged 37 goals in four seasons for Dale. Known for his target man playing style, Platt spent the majority of his career playing in the third tier of English football.

The time he spent at Coventry was in the Championship, however. Platt managed 7 goals in two seasons, playing alongside strikers such as Marlon King, Lucas Jutkiewicz and Freddy Eastwood.

Match Officials:

Marc Edwards is the man in the middle on Saturday. Edwards, who has never officiated a Coventry City match, is new to the Football League after promotion from the National League this summer.

So far this season Edwards officiated in two League One games, two EFL Trophy games and seven League Two games. He will be assisted by Robert Atkin and Hristo Karaivanov, while Matthew Smith will act as fourth official.

Match Reports

REPORT: Liam Walsh fires the Sky Blues to all three points

City come from behind...

16 November 2019

Liam Walsh scored a sublime individual goal to give the Sky Blues all three points against Rochdale on Saturday.

The midfielder started his run from just over the half way line, before beating four Rochdale men and firing a low shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards out.

City had trailed in the game but goals from Walsh and Jordan Shipley moved the Sky Blues up to third.

Shipley had an early chance for the Sky Blues as he met Zain Westbrooke’s corner at the near post but he couldn’t guide his header goalward.

Shipley then tried his luck from range as the ball broke to the midfielder, but his left footed effort flew over Robert Sanchez’s goal.

Jimmy Keohane worked the first opening for the visitors as he broke from deep and took aim from 25 yards however his effort lacked any accuracy and sailed high and wide.

Rochdale took the lead after 27 minutes as Callum Camps drove down the right-hand side, before passing the ball across the six-yard box to Ian Henderson who swept the ball home.

City almost responded immediately as Amadou Bakayoko found Westbrooke on the edge of the penalty area and the midfielder fired a shot just past the post.

Henderson looked set to double his tally as he was released in on goal by Rekeil Pyke but an excellent last-ditch tackle by Declan Drysdale, who was making his first league start, thwarted the chance.

Just three minutes before half time Shipley drew the Sky Blues level as he latched onto a superb ball over the top by Westbrooke and bundled the ball home after his initial shot was blocked by the Rochdale defence.

City were nearly pegged back before the break, as a near post corner from Aaron Morley was flicked on by Camps before ricocheting off the post.

HALF TIME: SKY BLUES 1-1 ROCHDALE

The Sky Blues dominated possession in the early stages of the second half and worked the ball to the edge of the Rochdale box which opened up space for Westbrooke who fired over from 20 yards.

Westbrooke then turned provider as he drilled a ball across the mouth of goal but Bakayoko failed to guide the ball home and sliced his shot wide.

Liam Walsh stung the palms of Sanchez 20 minutes into the second half as another long range effort was fired goalward and from the resulting save Shipley volleyed the ball back at the goal but his effort lacked the power to trouble Sanchez for a second time.

Shipley then had a more clear-cut opportunity as Liam Walsh clipped a ball over the defence, which found Shipley but his shot from a tight angle was straight at the goalkeeper.

After Walsh’s wonder goal 73 minutes in, Shipley almost made it three as Brandon Mason headed the ball down to Shipley who volleyed the ball centimetres past the far post.

After seeing very little action, Marko Marosi was called into action five minutes from time as a deep cross was heading in at the far post before Marosi clawed the ball out and tipped it over the bar.

FULL TIME: SKY BLUES 2-1 ROCHDALE

Goals: Ian Henderson 27’, Jordan Shipley 42’, Liam Walsh 73’.

Yellows: Jimmy Ryan 39’, Declan Drysdale 61’

Reds: N/A

Attendance: 5,433 (293 away)

SKY BLUE XI: Marko Marosi, Fankaty Dabo, Michael Rose (C), Dom Hyam, Declan Drysdale, Brandon Mason, Josh Eccles (Callum O’Hare 88’), Liam Walsh, Zain Westbrooke, Jordan Shipley, Amadou Bakayoko.

Unused Subs: Ben Wilson, Tennai Watson, Jamie Allen, Gervane Kastaneer, Will Bapaga, Jack Burroughs.

ROCHDALE XI: Robert Sanchez (GK), Eoghan O’Connell, Jordan Williams, Callum Camps, Rekeil Pyke, Jimmy Keohane, Matthew Done, Aaron Wilbraham (Calvin Andrew 80’), Jimmy Ryan (Fabio Tavares 79’), Aaron Morley, Ian Henderson (C).

Unused Subs: Jay Lynch (GK), Paul McShane, Kwadwo Baah, Matthew Gillam, Harriosn Hooper.

Match Reports

Standings