x

Saints At Leicester City The Preview

What can be said about this evenings game that hasn't been said before, we need to find what has been missing most of the season.

The performance in the first 70 minutes on Saturday against Chelsea gives us hope that we can go to Leicester and get only our 2nd League win in almost five months.

On Saturday the whole season was condensed into 10 minutes that not only cost us three vital points but had everything in it to show why we are in the trouble we are in.

Bad refereeing decisions,bad luck, poor defending & a lack of leadership, at some point in most of the games this season one or a combination of these has cost us points, just not usually all in the same game in such a short period of time, in fact the only thing that could not be levelled at the team on Saturday was poor finishing.

But Leicester City are not Chelsea and we can win there, in fact we have to win there, what we have to avoid though is what happened in our last three away games where we ahve conceded three goals, in two of the games fairly early on when we have been blitzed by Newcastle and West Ham came out of the traps fighting.

We have to use the lessons learned in those games well, both teams were fairly poor up to when they faced us, both showed that with a bit of effort you can win a game.

Hopefully the edge that is now on this game in that the margin for error is now gone we have to play with that motivation that desperation brings you will finally carry us through and revive our hopes of avoiding the drop.

Mark Hughes has to do what he has failed to get his team to do in his three League games in charge, that is put out a side to get a grip on the game and keep a grip on it, personally I would not change much from Saturday's starting line up if everyone is fit, it worked apart from that ten minute nightmare, aside from that we looked good and seemed full of confidence.

Leicester like to attack with pace and we have to counter that, but if we do then we have every chance of getting something out of this game.

In truth although a draw will be something and will keep us in touch with Swansea and Palace it will mean the season is not in our hands, but if we can win then we will be within a point of Swansea and coming from behind is the place to be in a relegation battle as those around in the 90's will testify.

So it's all hands to the pump all we can ask is the work rate of Saturday but with the luck that has been evading us all season

What to read next:

Refwatch - Forest Green Rovers v Rochdale
Dale’s game at Forest Green Rovers on Saturday will be refereed by JAMES DURKIN.
Refwatch - Stockton Town v Rochdale (FA Trophy)
Dale’s rearranged FA Trophy fourth round tie at Stockton Town on Wednesday will be refereed by PAUL COOPER.
Refwatch - Rochdale v Stockton Town
Dale’s FA Trophy fourth round tie at home to Stockton Town on Saturday will be refereed by JOHN MULLIGAN.
TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Stockton Town
Rochdale AFC’s matchday programme – The Voice of Spotland – is back for Saturday’s FA Trophy fourth round tie against Stockton Town.
TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Altrincham
Rochdale AFC’s matchday programme – The Voice of Spotland – is back for our New Year’s Day Vanarama National League fixture against Altrincham.
Refwatch - Rochdale v Altrincham
Dale’s first game of 2025 against Altrincham on New Year’s Day will be refereed by AARON JACKSON.
Refwatch - AFC Fylde v Rochdale
Dale will meet a new match official on Boxing Day when their second visit of the campaign to AFC Fylde is refereed by ELLIOTT SWALLOW.
TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Boston United
Rochdale AFC’s matchday programme – The Voice of Spotland – is back for Saturday’s Vanarama National League fixture against Boston United.
Refwatch - Rochdale v Boston United
Referee STUART MORLAND will officiate at Spotland for the second time in two months when he takes charge of Saturday’s home fixture against Boston United.
TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Tamworth
Rochdale AFC’s matchday programme – The Voice of Spotland – is back for Tuesday’s Vanarama National League fixture against Tamworth.