Rochdale v Southend preview

Terry Gornell: Absent for Dale

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• Rochdale
• Southend United

Team news for Saturday's League Two clash between Rochdale and Southend at Spotland Stadium.

Rochdale will be once more without Rhys Bennett.

Bennett missed Tuesday night's 1-1 draw against Gillingham with a knee problem and now looks likely to miss the rest of the season following a scan.

Terry Gornell (groin) and Reece Gray (broken leg) are also absentees while Ritchie Jones (ankle) is continuing to build up his match fitness.

Andrew Tutte is struggling to overcome a knock, leaving manager Keith Hill a little short on numbers.

After winning just one of their last six games, Hill's men still have one eye on those sides below them, but the 1-1 draw against the Gills has boosted morale.

Ashley Grimes played the final quarter of that game in place of Ian Henderson but will be made to settle for a place on the bench once more. He is without a goal since New Year's Day.

Matthew Lund is again struggling for Southend's trip but Luke Prosser returns from suspension.

Midfielder Lund, who has extended his loan stay from Stoke until the end of the season, missed Tuesday's disappointing 2-0 home defeat to Plymouth with a hip injury.

Defender Prosser returns to contention having completed his two-match ban in midweek, but Mark Phillips (broken toe) and Chris Barker (Achilles) continue to miss out.

Centre-back Ryan Cresswell returned to manager Paul Sturrock's starting XI against the Pilgrims having recovered from his calf injury and he will again hope to be involved, as will fit-again strikers Gavin Tomlin and Barry Corr.

Sturrock admits Southend need to win all seven of their remaining games this season if they are to have any chance of reaching the play-offs having won just one of their last six.