Sunderland will look to claim back-to-back home victories in Sky Bet League One this Saturday when Rochdale make the trip to Wearside (3pm).
Tuesday night’s 1-0 win at the Stadium of Light against Swindon Town lifted us to fourth in the table – our highest position since early October. Now we turn our attention to another of the sides fighting to beat the drop, Brian Barry-Murphy’s Rochdale outfit.
Form guide
The Lads are now unbeaten in six in all competitions, heading into one of the most important periods of the campaign. We still maintain the joint-best defence in the league so far, with 45 points still up for grabs.
As for Rochdale, successive 2-0 defeats have pulled the Greater Manchester side further into trouble – they now sit 23rd, having won just one of their last 15. One factor ‘Dale still have on their side is the ability to spring a surprise – they have enjoyed wins of both 4-0 and 5-0 away from home this term, and have scored as many goals as promotion contenders Accrington Stanley.
Last five meetings
October 2020: Rochdale 2-2 Sunderland
February 2020: Sunderland 3-0 Rochdale
August 2019: Rochdale 1-2 Sunderland
April 2019: Rochdale 1-2 Sunderland
September 2018: Sunderland 4-1 Rochdale
Opposition
A League One club since 2014, our visitors will be keen to secure their status. Their first season of this spell was the most successful, slotting in at eighth place in 2014-15. However, recent campaigns have seen Rochdale hover above the drop zone, but with too much to be dragged into a survival fight – with the exception of 2017-18, on which they pipped rivals Oldham Athletic to stay in the third tier on the final day.
Irishman Barry-Murphy took on his first managerial role with Rochdale in 2019, a highly esteemed figure in Greater Manchester. During his playing days as a deep-lying midfielder, he racked up over 200 league games in six years at Bury, before moving across to Rochdale and taking on first-team coaching duties as well as turning out on the pitch.
Pre-match talk
Lee Johnson has warned that Rochdale are more than capable of posing a significant challenge to the Black Cats this weekend, following extensive research in recent days.
“We have to take care of what we can do, keep being relentless and churning out wins,” the Head Coach insisted.
“Our form is good, but we can’t rest on our laurels. I think Rochdale are a really good side – I’ve watched a lot of them over the last two or three days, and the way they play out from the back is very impressive.
“We have a good side, and we have to take our A-game to the weekend, and if we don’t, we’ll be punished by a good Rochdale outfit.”
Around the grounds
Another full fixture programme is in line to take place this week, with the races for both the top six and survival hotting up. Leaders Peterborough United head to Burton Albion, whilst Lincoln City host Crewe Alexandra and Hull City take on Bristol Rovers. Portsmouth travel to Northampton Town and in the early kick-off, Ipswich Town visit Gillingham.
How to watch
To purchase a streaming pass as Sunderland take on Rochdale at the Stadium of Light, click here and follow the instructions.
Alternatively, match coverage will take place on safc.com via the SAFC Matchday Centre, with social media updates on Twitter @SunderlandAFC, and Instagram @sunderlandafcofficial.
