Altrincham
- It’s been a tough week for Altrincham as they suffered back-to-back defeats in the FA Trophy (L4-3 v AFC Telford United) and the National League (L2-1 at Aldershot Town) after a promising start to the season.
- They sit 15th with 26 points from 22 matches.
- Neil Gibson took the reins after the departure of Phil Parkinson and he will have brought some immediate uncertainty into the team’s tactical approach.
- The club have always been about pressing the opposition, so we expect Gibson to maintain that identity and have Altrincham set up in either a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3.
Rochdale
- Rochdale are unbeaten in five (W4, D1) across all competitions and have won both of their last two away games (W2).
- They sit top of the National League with 46 points from 19 matches.
- Dale’s away record in the National League is an impressive seven wins from ten matches (W7, L3), conceding just nine goals.
- They secured a hard-fought 1-0 win at Leamington FC in the FA Trophy before grinding out a 0-0 draw at home to Southend United in the league.
- Jimmy McNulty’s side operate in a 4-4-2 system that is possession-based and allows them to transition into various shapes.
Head-to-Head
Rochdale have won the last five meetings (W5), including a 2-1 win at home four months ago.
Key Players
- Oliver Crankshaw has scored four goals in his last five games and will be Altrincham’s main goal threat.
- Emmanuel Dieseruvwe is Rochdale’s danger man, top-scoring with 12 goals from 18 league appearances.
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Recent stats:
- Crankshaw: 4 goals in 5.
- Dieseruvwe: 12 in 18.
Betting Insights
- Rochdale are the clear form favorites and occupy a much higher spot in the table.
- Odds: Rochdale 1.88, Altrincham 3.71.
- The away price at 1.88 makes Rochdale worth supporting at the prices.
Prediction
- This match pits Altrincham’s proactive, pressing side against Rochdale’s possession-based team.
- We’re taking the Under 2.5 goals at 1.92.
- Rochdale are likely to come out on top.
