Rochdale v AFC Wimbledon preview

Team news ahead of Saturday's League Two clash between Rochdale and AFC Wimbledon at Spotland Stadium.

Last Updated: 04/01/13 at 11:18   

Edward: Returned to parent club Blackburn

Edward: Returned to parent club Blackburn

Rochdale boss John Coleman has a decision to make at centre-back.

Ryan Edward has returned to Blackburn at the end of his loan spell having started 25 of Dale's 26 league encounters this year and appeared as a substitute in the other.

Skipper Peter Cavanagh could slip back from midfield and into the heart of defence, while youngster Sam Minihan may come in from the cold having not featured this season.

Coleman would have more problems at the back if the yellow card amnesty had not come into effect before Joe Rafferty's fifth booking of the season in the 2-1 home defeat to Rotherham on New Year's Day.

Rafferty has been booked in each of his last four appearances.

Midfielder Reece Gray continues his rehabilitation from a broken leg.

Will Antwi returns to the AFC Wimbledon squad for the trip to Rochdale.

The defender missed the dramatic 3-2 New Year's Day win over Torquay through suspension after collecting five bookings.

Boss Neal Ardley must decide whether to restore Antwi to his back four or stick with Pim Balkestein and Mat Mitchel-King as his centre-half pairing.

Balkestein and Mitchel-King had not previously started a match together since August as both have struggled with injuries this season.

Full-back Jim Fenlon will be assessed after missing out at Torquay through illness while Luke Moore was restricted to a substitute role due to a bug so he could start.

Fellow strikers Charlie Strutton (knee) and Byron Harrison (back) are likely to miss out again.

Football365 Facebook Fan Page

The Football365 fan page is a great place to meet like minded people, have football related discussions and make new friends.

Sky Bet

    • Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds

League Two Fixtures

There are no fixtures at present.

npower League 2

Position Team P GD PTS
1 Gillingham 46 27 83
2 Rotherham 46 15 79
3 Port Vale 46 35 78
4 Burton Alb 46 6 76
5 Cheltenham 46 7 75
6 Northamptn 46 9 73
7 Bradford 46 11 69
8 Chesterfld 46 15 67
9 Oxford Utd 46 -1 65
10 Exeter 46 1 64
11 Southend 46 6 61
12 Rochdale 46 -2 61
13 Fleetwood 46 -2 60
14 Bristol R 46 -9 60
15 Wycombe 46 -10 60
16 Morecambe 46 -6 58
17 York City 46 -10 55
18 Accrington 46 -17 54
19 Torquay 46 -7 53
20 AFC W'don 46 -22 53
21 Plymouth 46 -9 52
22 Dag + Red 46 -7 51
23 Barnet 46 -12 51
24 Aldershot 46 -18 48

Updated Sat, 27 Apr 2013

Footer 365

Cardiff boss Malky Mackay insists he will not join Everton

Cardiff manager Malky Mackay has played down talk linking him with the vacancy at Everton.

Pardew set for crunch Toon talks

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is due to sit down with owner Mike Ashley on Wednesday to discuss the way forward.

West Ham owner David Sullivan eyes Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku

Romelu Lukaku is a target for West Ham, with joint-owner David Sullivan hoping to pair the striker with Andy Carroll.

Mail Box

A Night In The Pub With Aston Villa...

Villa are the latest team to get the pub treatment, while the morning mailbox also includes missives on Tony Pulis leaving Stoke and Chelsea's future under Jose Mourinho...

Mourinho Isn't Short-Term, Football Is

There's more in the afternoon Mailbox about Jose Mourinho and his potential return to Chelsea, while there's also a link to some pictures of eagles that look like Arsene Wenger...

© 2013 British Sky Broadcasting Ltd. All Rights Reserved