Rochdale Preview

On Saturday, the Bees entertain Rochdale at Underhill. The Dale, who are managed by Keith Hill, have made a very similar start to the season as the Bees, having got 4 points from 4 games. Their game against Wrexham last season was postponed so they have played one game fewer than Barnet. They are currently placed 22^nd.

Rochdale opened up their League 2 season with a 0-3 defeat at Peterborough United and followed this with a 1-1 draw at home to Chester, Simon Ramsden scoring. A Chris Dagnall penalty secured a point in a 1-1 draw away at Hereford, before an amazing comeback at home to MK Dons gave Rochdale their first win of the season. They were 2-1 down in the last minute of the game, but grabbed 2 goals before the end through Chris Dagnall and Adam LeFondre to win 3-2. Dagnall got the other goal.

In the Carling Cup, Rochdale put out Championship side, Stoke City, in the first round, winning 4-2 on penalties, at Spotland, after the two sides had finished the game level at 2-2 after extra time, David Perkins and Rory Prendergast scoring. In the second round, Rochdale were at home to another Championship side, Norwich City, at home. The game finished 1-1 after extra time, Glenn Murray scoring, but this time Rochdale lost on penalties 4-3.

Last season, Barnet did the double over Rochdale, winning 3-2 at home with a Tresor Kandol hat trick and winning 2-0 at Spotland with goals from Dean Sinclair and Barry Cogan.

A look at the players from Rochdale:

In goal is James Spencer, who was signed in the summer from Stockport County, for whom he made over 100 first team appearances.

In defence; Simon Ramsden began his career at Sunderland and was signed in January 2006 from Grimsby Town. He made 32 league starts last season. Former Sheffield Wednesday youth player, Rory McArdle was at Spotland on lengthy loan periods for the last two seasons and signed permanently for the Dale in the summer. Much travelled central defender, Guy Branston is on loan from Peterborough United, for whom he was in and out of the first team last season. His former clubs include Oldham, Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham. Thomas Kennedy was signed in the summer from Bury and made over 150 first team appearances for them.

In midfield, former Bee, John Doolan, who joined Barnet from Mansfield Town in 1997 and left for Doncaster Rovers in 2002, was signed from Blackpool in January of last year. He made 40 league starts for Rochdale last season. David Perkins was signed in the January transfer window from Morecambe for whom he made over 150 Conference first team starts. Left sided midfield player, Adam rundle was released by Mansfield Town in the summer of 2006 and moved to Spotland. He was formerly with Carlisle United and Darlington. Gary Jones is in his second spell at Spotland, having had two seasons at Barnsley in between. He has played over 300 times for the club and could break the Rochdale appearance record this season. Lee Crooks, who played in the Premiership with Manchester City, was signed from Bradford City a year ago. He has also played for Barnsley and Northampton. Rory Prendergast was signed in the transfer window last January from Blackpool. Bees fans will remember him causing our defenders a lot of problems when he was at Accrington Stanley, particularly in the 4-1 away defeat during our Conference Championship season.

Up front there is former Manchester United youth player, Ben Muirhead who signed in the summer from Bradford City; former Tranmere striker, Chris Dagnall, who scored in the 1-1 draw against Barnet at Spotland two seasons ago and scored 17 goals from 32 appearances last season; former Carlisle United player, Glenn Murray who got 16 goals last term and Adam LeFondre, who joined the club from Stockport County in the summer following a loan spell last season at Spotland. He scored 7 goals from 14 games last season.