Rochdale vs Crewe Alexandra preview - Dale unchanged for Crewe clash

Posted Tuesday, March 03, 2015 by PA

Rochdale manager Keith Hill will select his starting line-up to face Crewe from an unchanged squad.

Hill handed a debut to new loan signing Jamie Jones in Saturday's defeat at Bristol City and the Preston goalkeeper is expected to retain his place.

Striker Calvin Andrew (knee), midfielder Stephen Dawson (calf) and defender Olly Lancashire (ankle) remain sidelined and after making four changes to his starting XI at the weekend, Hill is expected to shuffle his pack as his side bid to avoid a third straight defeat.

Goalkeeper Josh Lillis, winger Febian Brandy, plus midfielders Bastien Hery and Joel Logan all dropped to the bench on Saturday and are pushing for recalls.

Crewe will be forced into a defensive change as Alan Tate is suspended.

The Swansea loanee was dismissed in the weekend's draw with Swindon and will now serve a one-game suspension, leaving Steve Davis to mull over picking either Jon Guthrie or Anthony Stewart, or changing his system away from a back three.

At the other end of the pitch, striker Lauri Dalla-Valle is rated at 50-50 with the hip knock which has kept him out of the past two games.

Ryan Colclough (hernia), who has not featured in a senior game for 16 months, will play for the Under-21s on Wednesday but Matt Tootle (ankle) and goalkeeper Ben Garratt (broken leg) are still occupying the sidelines.