Rochdale vs Bradford preview
Friday 28 December 2018 10:54, UK
Rochdale manager Keith Hill must decide whether to freshen up his side for the visit of Bradford on Saturday.
Hill named an unchanged side on Boxing Day and was rewarded with a 2-1 win over Blackpool.
Jordan Williams was fit to start despite limping out of Dale's win at Southend last week, and Hill has no fresh injury concerns.
Andrew Cannon looks to have played his final game for the club, with a move to Plymouth due to be completed when the transfer window opens next week.
Bradford boss David Hopkin will not want to make too many changes to his side after being impressed by their display in a 1-0 loss to Sunderland.
Bradford were denied a deserved point when the referee failed to spot Jack Payne's 82nd-minute shot had crossed the line, and Hopkin praised his players after the match.
Anthony O'Connor featured as a late substitute after overcoming a foot problem.
Kelvin Mellor is close to a return from a knee injury.
Opta stats
Since winning successive home league games against Bradford in January 2008 and March 2009, Rochdale are winless in their last six in the league on home soil versus the Bantams (D3 L3).
Rochdale recorded their first win in seven league games against Bradford in October - the Dale haven't won both games in a league campaign versus Bradford since 2007-08
Rochdale are aiming to win three straight league games for the first time since January 2017 (five consecutive wins).
Bradford have only won one of their last 11 away league games (D2 L8), a 1-0 win at AFC Wimbledon in October.
Rochdale have conceded a league-high 13 headed goals in League One this season, although opponents Bradford have scored a league-low one goal via headers.
