Rochdale v Shrewsbury preview: Sam Ricketts undaunted by Spotland hoodoo

Many new Town fans have never seen an away win at Spotland. The last was in 2001.

Sam Ricketts’ response? Undaunted.

“Similar to the Peterborough one?” he chirped back as soon as the record was brought up.

“There we go then.

“Yeah, fine. I don’t mind breaking records. I didn’t know about the Peterborough one – if I’d known I’d have said about it after the game!

“No worries about things like that, it doesn’t bother me.”

That’s that then.

Town’s six-match winless run at Posh (containing five defeats and dating back to 2005) was put to bed a few weeks ago.

The Spotland hoodoo is a little more gruesome – 11 games in total dating back to that 7-1 Luke Rodgers-inspired hammering some 18 years ago.

But, while fans may err on the side of caution heading up the M6 north of Manchester, Ricketts will not lose any sleep.

The Town boss has taken time away from Sundorne Castle this week while studying for his Pro license coaching badge with the Welsh FA in Newport.

Part of the course was spending time with and studying the Wales Rugby Union set-up. Warren Gatland’s men, on a 12-match winning run and looking good for a Six Nations crown, are hardly a bad outfit to study.

“We were down in south Wales over (last) weekend and the early part of the week with different talkers coming in,” said Ricketts.

“It tied in with the Welsh Rugby Union, going to watch and speak to them, they’re on a great 12-game winning run, a record.

“It was good to see them, how they train, ask a few questions and pick up a few tips and hints to see what you can transfer into football.” Asked what could be implemented, he joked: “We’re going to get a scrum machine!”

Pushed for a serious answer, Ricketts continued: “It’s more the running of it really.

“How do they get the information across to players? The training, how do they take it? There are very subtle differences.

“There’s a difference in the game obviously, rugby is a lot more stop-start, more set-pieced based – throw-ins, scrums, patterns and movements – then it comes to a halt again.

“But if you can pick up bits and pieces, even just one thing, then it’s worth going because you’re improving.

“Everyone works differently. Warren Gatland is very quiet, he just walks around, if you didn’t know him you wouldn’t say he was the main man.

“But it would be like having a defensive coach, midfield coach and forward coach taking their bit and Warren just chips in where he sees fit.”

Ivan Toney’s recent hand ball on the line for Peterborough helped boost Town recently, but Ricketts will be hoping his players haven’t been too inspired by the Welsh record breakers. Town goalkeeper Steve Arnold is over an arm injury picked up last time out in the stalemate against AFC Wimbledon after scans revealed there wasn’t a break.

There was illness in the Shrews camp earlier this week but no players are thought to be doubts as a result.

Midfielder Anthony Grant serves the final game of his two-match ban and will return to contention for Tuesday’s long trip to Plymouth Argyle.

The opposition

It has been a tough season for struggling Rochdale, who sacked manager Keith Hill on Monday.

First-team coach Brian Barry-Murphy will take charge for tomorrow’s visit of Shrewsbury, a crucial encounter for both clubs.

Dale supporter Mitchell Barron gives us an insight to the men from Spotland.

How has the season been on a whole for Rochdale fans?

I think the expectations for this season was to learn from our mistakes from last season and hopefully pull away from the relegation battle. Our first two seasons in League one we were borderline play-offs so it’s a bit of a strange one. But being in a fight against relegation was what we expected.

At what point in the season were you aware the form was struggling?

I think the realisation was our 4-0 defeat to fellow League One strugglers Bradford. Our chairman (Chris Dunphy) had been at Rochdale for many years and this was his last game.

That was followed by a 5-0 battering at Doncaster on New Year’s Day, then a 4-0 battering at home against Burton Albion.

When did the pressure ramp up on Keith Hill and how did fans find it?

The pressure definitely ramped up in that run.

Was it the right decision to sack him and who do you want to replace him?

Some fans are split as to whether we should have sacked him or not as he knows League Two (if we go down).

I, along with a few mates, would like to see Paul Hurst or Darrell Clarke in charge as Clarke previously played for us for a short time and Hurst worked wonders at Shrewsbury last season.

Ian Evatt (manager of Barrow) has apparently had a job interview and some of the fans aren’t too optimistic about that. But we will see.

Thoughts and prediction for tomorrow’s big game?

In terms of result for Saturday I think the fans will back the interim manager (Brian Barry-Murphy and Tony Ellis) and get behind the side.

Football is a strange sport and normally, when a manager leaves a club, they get a result.

But I think our woeful defence will let us down so I am going to go for a 2-2.