Rochdale vs Burton Albion. Sky Bet League One.
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Friday 4 January 2019 10:58, UK
Rochdale could give a debut to new on-loan signing Rory Holden in their Sky Bet League One tie against Burton at the Crown Oil Arena.
The 21-year-old joined Dale from Championship side Bristol City until the end of the season.
Rochdale boss Keith Hill will be without duo Andy Cannon and Sam Hart while Brendan Moore returns to the United States after his contract was terminated by mutual consent. Cannon has moved to Portsmouth for an undisclosed fee while Hart has returned to parent club Blackburn.
Burton's Scott Fraser could return to the starting line-up for Albion after the midfielder was rested against Bristol Rovers on New Year's Day. Nigel Clough will be boosted after the deal for on-loan Chelsea player Brad Collins was extended until the end of the season as the team look to consolidate their league position.
Liam Boyce (thigh), Marvin Sordell (knee), Jake Hesketh (hamstring), Kyle McFadzean (abdominal) and Jamie Allen (ankle) were all unavailable for the game against Rovers and are likely to remain on the long-term injury list. Clough will be hoping his side extend their unbeaten run to four successive league games.
After failing to win in each of their first seven league games against Burton (D1 L6), Rochdale have won each of the last two, both by a 2-1 scoreline.
Burton have scored in each of the nine league contests against Rochdale, scoring exactly once in their last five encounters.
Rochdale have lost their last two league games by an aggregate score of 0-9, going down 0-4 at home to Bradford and 5-0 away at Doncaster; they last conceded 4+ goals in three consecutive matches in the Football League in February 1952 whilst in the old Third Division North.
Burton Albion have failed to score in each of their last four away league games (D1 L3), their longest such drought since October 2017 in the Championship (six games).
Rochdale have conceded more goals via set-piece scenarios (19) than any other side in League One this season.
