Aldershot Town (home)
- Rochdale and Aldershot Town have 78 points and 39 points respectively after 32 National League games.
- Aldershot Town have won both of their last two home games.
- Aldershot Town have scored 2.00 and conceded 2.00 goals per home game in the National League, indicating open games.
- Aldershot will sit deep and stay compact in a 4-2-3-1 or 5-4-1 system and try to stifle the opposition with their pressing triggers and defensive solidity under Coleman.
- Ryan Hill leads their attack and can be a spark in the final third, but they are more likely to come alive in transition on counterattack.
Rochdale (away)
- Rochdale have won 11 of their 15 away National League matches, conceding just 11 goals on the road.
- Rochdale are unbeaten in five National League fixtures (W2, D3).
- Jim McNulty’s side are at the top of the National League and he has a squad that has both the technical qualities and the willingness to win the ball back high up the field to make a success of his smart possession-based system.
- They can over-load the wide areas in a 3-4-3 or a 3-2-5 and their high press is structured and intelligent.
Head-to-Head
- In head-to-head, Rochdale have won four of the last five meetings with Aldershot in all competitions, most recently winning 1-0 at home three months ago.
- Both sides have averaged 1.5 goals per game when they’ve met at this venue.
Key Players
- Emmanuel Dieseruvwe is Rochdale’s lethal finisher, the striker has scored 18 goals in 26 National League appearances this season and has hit four of Rochdale’s last seven.
- 18 goals in 26 appearances
- 4 of Rochdale’s last 7 goals
- Sean Patton has hit great form with four goals in Aldershot’s last five games to help the Shots up the standings under John Coleman.
- 4 goals in last 5 games
- Ryan Hill can be a spark in the final third and a threat on transition.
Betting Insights
- With Aldershot unbeaten in their last five National League matches, this should be a tight, competitive game.
- Both teams have shown themselves capable of scoring and conceding in open games, suggesting goal action.
- Consider the Over 2.5 goals at 1.69.
Prediction
Over 2.5 goals looks the best play given both teams' scoring records and recent form.
