Tuesday 14th August 2007
Rochdale vs Stoke City
Carling Cup First Round
Spotland
Kick Off 7.45pm

Stoke City go into this tie with a responsibility to field a strong team but with also half a mind on Saturday's game with Charlton.

The three points picked up at Cardiff on Saturday make the opening home game of the season a tasty affair, and Pulis will not want any major injuries ahead of the game.

Vincent Pericard is ruled out of tonight's game with a thigh strain while Clint Hill serves the second game of his three-match ban.

First Team Coach Mark O'Connor says despite the likely changes to the starting line-up, the Potters will still field a strong team.

"We may rest a couple of players to give them chance to overcome niggles from Saturday, but as we do with with every game we're going there to win and hopefully progress to the next round," said O'Connor.

Ins & Outs

Rochdale In:

Adam Le Fondre (Stockport County, undisclosed)
James Spencer (Stockport County, undisclosed)
Ben Muirhead (Bradford City, free)
Nathan D'Laryea (Manchester City, free)
Kallum Higginbotham (Oldham Athletic, free)
Jerome Watt (Northampton Town, free)
Tom Kennedy (Bury, free)
Sam Russell (Darlington, non-contract)

Rochdale Out:

Mark Jackson (Farsley Celtic, free)
Clive Moyo-Modise (Released)

Match Officials

Referee - Mr M Haywood
Assistants - Mr D Handley & Mr R J Wigglesworth
Fourth Official - Mr A N Smith

Team News - Stoke

Should Play - Shawcross, Higginbotham, Dickinson, Lawrence, Sidibe
Could Play - Hoult, Simonsen, Wilkinson, Wright, Broomes, Matteo, Delap, Pulis, Eustace, Sweeney, Parkin, Fuller, Cresswell
Suspensions - Hill
Doubts - None
Definately Outs - Pericard

Team News - Rochdale

Should Play - Spencer, Ramsden, Crooks, McArdle, Kennedy, Muirhead, Jones, Perkins, Rundle, Murray, Le Fondre
Could Play - D'Laryea, Russell, Prendergast, Dagnall
Suspensions - Doolan, Higginbotham, Warburton
Doubts - None
Definately Outs - None

Centenary

Rochdale are well known for playing in all blue but this season, to mark their centenary year, the club will revert back to black & white stripes, the same colours as their first ever kit. The special kit is manufactured by Nike and is modelled below by Rochdale-fan Gemma Roddy.

Last Time Out

The Dale began the campaign with a 3-0 loss at much fancied Peterborough United on Saturday. Goals from Josh Low, Aaron McLean and Danny Crow gave Keith Hill's men the worst possible start to the season.

Form

Stoke City - W
Rochdale - L

Head-To-Head

League - Played 2 Won 1 Lost 1
League Cup - Played 3 Won 2 Drew 1
Football League Trophy - Played 3 Won 2 Lost 1

Last Time We Met

The two clubs met this time four years ago, again in the League Cup First Round. The Potters were drawn at home and progressed through to the next round following a last minute winner by Marc Goodfellow. Chris Iwelumo opened the scoring after 13 minutes before substitute Kevin Townson equalised with 14 minutes remaining. City drew Gillingham in the next round but were defeated 2-0 at home.

Betting

Pulis may rotate his strikeforce for this fixture so it will be hard to predict the first goalscorer. Jon Parkin, unused substitute on Saturday, is priced at 11/2 to open the scoring however while Adam Le Fondre is favourite to score for the hosts, with a 15/2 price.

Full Time Result - Rochdale Win 11/4 - Draw 12/5 - Stoke City Win 5/6

Go to PottersBet for more betting options!