The Spireites are looking to keep their 100 per cent League record by making it 3 wins out of 3, having beaten Bury and Cheltenham. Although it will not be easy against a well organised Rochdale managed by Keith hill, although they no longer have Bobby Grant who scored 22 goals last season and always liked scoring against the Spireites. They won their first game of the season a 3-0 home win against Hartlepool, that was followed up by a 1-0 defeat at Burton Albion.
Vital Quotes:
Paul Cook talking to the official site said: ‘We’ve seen them play a couple of times. Keith sets his teams up very well and they’ve got some good players. They will set up very well and they’ve got some good players. They will set up to play football and it’s going to be a good game.
‘We’ll go there on Saturday to play an open brand of football that will attract people to the game and to score some goals.
‘We have great support and the club is very well run. Our fans are fantastic; they travel away from home in great numbers. The support at Leeds was amazing. I know what we’ll get from our fans on Saturday; I just hope we can replicate it back to them.’
Rochdale Team News:
Rochdale will be without their captain Peter Cavanagh through suspension, the defender was sent off at Burton. Andrew Tutte who has been recovering from a knee injury could make his first start of the season having come on as a sub in their last game.
Player to watch: Andrew Tutte
The attacking midfielder scored 7 goals for Rochdale last season, and now back to full fitness after sustaining an injury at the end of last season could be a key player for them.
Chesterfield Team News:
Liam Cooper could make his first start of the season, although Cook might give him a bit longer to recover from his injury with Edwards and Hird performing well in the heart of the defence, keeping clean sheets in their first 2 games.
Player to watch: Gary Roberts
The real joker of the team, Roberts will be looking to tease and torment the Rochdale defence with his trickery. Given a free role the left winger will often appear in the middle where he likes to run at people. Capable of scoring goals and can put dangerous crosses into the box, Rochdale could really struggle against him.
Match Facts & Stats
It could be third time lucky for the Spireites. On their last 2 visits to Spotlands, Town dominated both games having taken the lead only for Rochdale to level and earn a 1-1 draw in both games. The Spireites have won 3 lost 4 and drawn 3 of their last 10 League visits to the Spotlands.
Ref Watch:
Andy Haines is in charge of this game, this will be is 18th visit to the Spotlands. The last time he refereed a league fixture involving these 2 sides was last seasons fixture between the 2 teams at the Spotlands, he booked Cooper and Grimes and sent off goalscorer Bobby Grant in the 86th minute, the game ended 1-1.
Match Prediction:
I am going for a 3-1 win for the Spireites, it should be a very entertaining game, with both teams playing free flowing attacking football. I feel the Spireites are full of confidence and will have too much firepower for Rochdale.
Next Fixtures:
Southend will be the next fixture, it will be played at the Proact.
