Rochdale prepare to host Brackley Town at the Wham Stadium in a fixture that promises significant implications for both clubs’ league aspirations. The home side, firmly entrenched in the promotion hunt, will be looking to rebound from a recent setback, whilst Brackley Town will aim to build upon a more encouraging run of form.
Rochdale’s recent performances have largely been impressive, though a solitary defeat has punctuated their otherwise strong showings. In their last five outings, they secured four victories, notably overcoming Tamworth, Eastleigh, Altrincham, and Morecambe. However, their most recent fixture saw them fall to a 2-1 home defeat against Hartlepool United, bringing a promising sequence to an end. Despite this blip, Rochdale have demonstrated a consistent ability to find the net, having scored in their last eight matches. Their current form sees them on a losing streak of one game.
In contrast, Brackley Town have found consistency harder to achieve, but have shown welcome signs of life in their most recent encounters. Their last five matches have yielded two wins and three losses. They suffered defeats against York City, Woking, and Morecambe. However, they have since secured back-to-back victories, defeating Forest Green Rovers 1-0 at home and Boston United 2-1 away. This recent upturn has put them on a winning streak of two games, and they have scored in their last two matches.
Historically, these two sides have met only once in the last three seasons, with Brackley Town emerging victorious in that solitary encounter. The fixture, played earlier this season, saw Brackley Town win 2-1 at home. Rochdale’s lone goal in that match was scored by Connor McBride, while Brackley Town’s goals came from Ryan Haynes and Connor Hall.
In the league standings, Rochdale occupy a strong third position, having accumulated 52 points from their 22 matches played. Their record stands at 17 wins, 1 draw, and 4 losses, boasting an impressive goal difference of +26 with 42 goals scored and 16 conceded. Brackley Town, meanwhile, are positioned 17th in the table, having collected 26 points from 24 games. Their season has seen 7 wins, 5 draws, and 12 losses, with a goal difference of -12, having scored 18 goals and conceded 30.
A victory for Rochdale would solidify their promotion credentials and maintain their position near the top of the table, offering a significant boost to morale after their recent home loss. A draw would see them continue to gather points but potentially lose ground on teams above them. A defeat, however, could allow other challengers to pull away and disrupt their momentum. For Brackley Town, a win would be a crucial step towards climbing the table and distancing themselves from the relegation zone, building on their recent positive form and providing a significant lift in confidence. A draw would offer a valuable point, but they would likely be keen for a victory to continue their upward trajectory. A loss would halt their recent progress and could leave them vulnerable to teams below them in the standings.
