Head-to-Head
Rochdale and Scunthorpe United have been National League rivals since 2004 and remain level in their head-to-head record with 7 wins each and 7 draws from their last 21 meetings , often producing high-scoring encounters.
Rochdale
- Rochdale head coach Jimmy McNulty has done an incredible job with the Dale this season, crafting a methodical, possession-first team from a squad that is clearly not the most talented in the National League.
- They have a clear playing style that involves wide players who cut inside, a double-pivot and a number 10, and they dictate the tempo and create overloads in the attacking third.
- Rochdale had a 2nd place finish in the National League this campaign, and they will feel their 106 point tally is a true reflection of their quality.
- The home side have won 3, drawn 1 and lost 1 of their last 5 games in all competitions and will feel confident of their chances in this semi-final with home advantage and the momentum from a strong season.
Scunthorpe United
- Scunthorpe United finished 5th in the National League on 82 points before edging out Southend 1-0 in their play-off eliminator to make it to this semi-final.
- Scunthorpe head coach Andy Butler has forged a pragmatic and compact squad from his own limited resources, who play with high energy and high tempo that sees them press relentlessly after turnovers and quickly transition into attack, especially from wide areas and set pieces.
- Scunthorpe’s strikeforce of Callum Roberts and Danny Whitehall have combined for nearly 40 league goals this season, so the Iron are lethal on the counter and from set pieces.
- Tyler Jake Denton and Roberts rank high in assists and chance creation, so the playmakers will also be a threat to Rochdale’s backline.
- Scunthorpe United, despite having won 2, lost 2 and drawn 1 of their last 5, arrive here with some momentum of their own after scraping through their play-off eliminator and keeping a clean sheet.
Key Players
- Rochdale’s best players are Emmanuel Dieseruvwe, who has scored over 20 league goals this season and is a constant aerial threat, and Ian Henderson, who brings valuable experience and an ability to score clutch goals.
- Scunthorpe’s strikeforce of Callum Roberts and Danny Whitehall have combined for nearly 40 league goals this season, so the Iron are lethal on the counter and from set pieces.
- Tyler Jake Denton and Roberts rank high in assists and chance creation, so the playmakers will also be a threat to Rochdale’s backline.
Betting Insights
- Rochdale are the clear favorites at 1.58 with the bookies, Scunthorpe are 4.94 and the draw is at 4.2, as they should be.
- Both teams will be up for it, and the bookies are clearly expecting goals with over 2.5 available at 1.6 and both teams to score at 1.64.
Prediction
- Rochdale finished 24 points above Scunthorpe in the regular season and they are likely to edge this tight semi-final by the same margins.
- The winner of this game will play at Wembley for a shot at League Two football next season, so there is even more at stake in this contest than most.
- There is a clear contrast between these two teams and it will be a battle of Rochdale’s possession-based control versus Scunthorpe’s high-energy counter-attacking, a contrast that will likely be decided by who wins the midfield battles and gets the better of the transitions.
- Scunthorpe have an excellent play-off record and will be a tough nut to crack, so we see them scoring.
- However, Rochdale’s season-long consistency and home advantage should be enough to edge them to a narrow victory.
