Pre-Match Thread Rochdale v Southend United, Thursday 15th May, 19:45 ko, NL Play Off Eliminator

[rlb999]

Collin
GSM, Taylor, Goodliffe, Ralph
KAF, Husin, Miley
Kendall, Bonne, Parillon

 

[Jack_23]

Collin
GSM, Taylor, Goodliffe, Ralph
KAF, Husin, Miley
Kendall, Bonne, Parillon

With 4 clean sheets in a row there’s not a chance Maher is changing goalkeeper and formation

 

[ColinMorrisWalksOnWater]

Bill's brother?

I will have to start typing on a flat surface and not resting the laptop on the arm of the chair. lol.

Right hand of the keyboard much more reliable.

 

[rlb999]

With 4 clean sheets in a row there’s not a chance Maher is changing goalkeeper and formation

You're right. He might switch it up after 85 mins if we need a goal though.

 

[SOUTHENDMAD1]

Yes, Rochdale are a good side and unfortunately were in fine form before resting 7 players against Braintree. They must be favourites so we should prepare ourselves for disappointment - the default position for Shrimpers fans. However, we are hard to score against and I don't think that Rochdale are going to find it easy.

Honestly as someone who has watched Rochdale this season and for the past 30 years i take nothing for granted, always expect the unexpected, this season has had so many ups and downs ive lost count, on our day we look a great team but when we dont we dont look the best, for every Hartlepool performance there is a Spennymoor performance, i can see this game being close tight and edgy between two evenly matched teams as the league results have shown, it would not shock me if it went all the way to pens.

 

[ColinMorrisWalksOnWater]

God, I'm bored with waiting!

To break the boredom you could walk to Rochdale and get a lift back, set off now you should be there for kick off time?

I'll get my coat lol.

 

[lreed567]

Honestly as someone who has watched Rochdale this season and for the past 30 years i take nothing for granted, always expect the unexpected, this season has had so many ups and downs ive lost count, on our day we look a great team but when we dont we dont look the best, for every Hartlepool performance there is a Spennymoor performance, i can see this game being close tight and edgy between two evenly matched teams as the league results have shown, it would not shock me if it went all the way to pens.

Sounds exactly like watching Southend . We can look awesome and blow teams away, but then there's always a maidenhead or sittingbourne performance thrown in

 

[Eighties Blue]

If I remember correctly we lost at home in the FA cup to Hereford that season. We were top and hadn’t lost at home (which was to continue in the league) and Hereford were bottom and hadn’t won away!

Yes - I remember that day. I couldn't believe it at full time as we had been, quite literally, unbeatable at home! What an amazing season

 

[Kristof]

Yes - I remember that day. I couldn't believe it at full time as we had been, quite literally, unbeatable at home! What an amazing season

That was my first ever game, start as you mean to go on eh!?

 

[Tommy2holes]

Let's be honest.

Apart from a very good Barnet side and a competent York side, all the rest are capable of getting a result.

We turn up on the night and we can get something.

 

[hlane17]

Never thought I'd say this in all my days, but get me to Rochdale ASAP. So much anticipation of this match feels like we've been waiting ages.

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

For those writing/buying "Roots and All' when published, my contribution is the laughable odyssey of getting from Liverpool to Rochdale for the season finale in 1973.
Billy Best's exit from all things blue, and a 3-2 defeat in a meaningless game that took five-and-a-half hours to make 35 miles as the crow flies!
Hope it's a lot easier for everyone on Thursday!

 

[SeldomSeenShrimper]

Bonne is due a hat trick... Just saying

 

[Zeuss]

Bonne is due a hat trick... Just saying

Very difficult if Maher keeps him on the bench.

 

[Whispering Bob]

From 'Sports Mole' ;

Preview: Rochdale vs. Southend United - prediction, team news, lineups​

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter
Published: May 13 2025 | 22:10
Last updated: May 13 2025 | 22:12


A place in the National League playoff semi-finals is up for grabs on Thursday night when Rochdale lock horns with Southend United in a playoff eliminator showdown at the Crown Oil Arena.

The winners of this one-off tie will take on Forest Green Rovers away from home in the semi-finals on May 21.
After settling for an 11th-placed finish in 2023-24 - their first season as a National League club in over a century - Rochdale have proven to be one of the strongest teams in the fifth tier this term, finishing the regular campaign in fourth spot.
The Dale accumulated a total of 74 points after winning 21, drawing 11 and losing 14 of their 46 league fixtures, with a six-game unbeaten run ended last weekend by Braintree Town (2-0) away from home.

Nothing was riding on Rochdale's final game of the season and Jimmy McNulty's "fundamental priorities" were to rest players as well as welcome back a couple of others from injury ahead of an "exciting" and important fixture on Thursday.

McNulty has urged his players to approach their clash with Southend with "no fear" and "belief" that they can get the job done on home soil, where they have won three of their four matches, scoring 13 goals and conceding only one in the process.

Southend have made themselves difficult to beat, though, as they have lost only two of their last 17 National League games (W7 D8) and have gone over 360 minutes without conceding a goal, keeping a fourth successive clean sheet in last weekend's goalless draw with Gateshead.

The Shrimpers needed to avoid defeat in their final match of the regular season to secure seventh spot - their highest finish in the National League since dropping down from the EFL four years ago - ahead of Gateshead, who narrowly missed out on the final playoff position by just one point.

Considering that they endured a challenging start to the campaign with a transfer embargo and the loss of a few key players, and were then languishing as low as 15th in the table in January, head coach Kevin Maher is thrilled with how his Southend side have put together a strong run of form at the backend of the season and he hopes they can take that momentum into the playoffs.

Southend secured a slender 1-0 win at Rochdale earlier in the season, but their recent away record leaves a little to be desired, as they head to the Crown Oil Arena having won only two of their last nine matches on the road (D5 L2), conceding 11 goals in that time.
Rochdale were able to welcome back defender Liam Hogan and midfielder Ryan East to the matchday squad last weekend following lengthy spells out through injury. The former came on at half time and the latter played for just over an hour from the start, and both players are in contention to feature again.

McNulty is expected to name his strongest possible starting lineup, which is set to include top scorer Devante Rodney, who has netted 17 times this season, while club legend Ian Henderson - still going strong at the age of 40 - is also hoping to feature in the final third.

As for Southend, James Golding and Adam Crowther both remain sidelined as they continue to recover from respected groin and knee injuries, the latter of whom is yet to make an appearance in 2025.

Maher is likely to stick with Nicholas Hayes in goal, with Collin Andeng-Ndi set to remain on the bench for a sixth consecutive match, while Gus Scott-Morriss - who has scored a team-high 17 goals from right-back this season - will retain his starting spot as both Charley Kendall and Tom Hopper continue to lead the line.


Rochdale possible starting lineup:
Barrett; Gordon, Ebanks-Landell, Beckwith; Adebayo-Rowling, Gilmour, Barlow, Allarakhia; Ayinde, Henderson, Rodney

Southend United possible starting lineup:
Hayes; Scott-Morriss, Goodliffe, Taylor, Ralph, Bridge; Coker, Appiah-Forson, Husin; Kendall; Hopper

---

We say: Rochdale 1-1 Southend United (Southend to win on penalties)​

A tight affair could be in store on Thursday and the prospect of extra time and even penalties cannot be ruled out here, as there is little to separate these two teams. Nevertheless, we are backing Southend to frustrate Rochdale on their own turf and edge themselves into the semi-finals.

 

[SHRIMPERPETER]

We were promoted in '05 then '15 so what about '25 ?

 

[bigmolt]

Impressive, we go to Clacton

Your lucky, Clacton is luxurious compared to where we go to, Jaywick Sands!!!!!
Mind I did get to see farage in the distance as he was walking into the club house!!!!

 

[Rob1920]

Haha tbh ive got a really bad feeling about it and am dreading it !

Thats my standard pre match feeling to be fair..

 

[BARRY HARRIS]

Where is everyone planning to drink before the match ? We should be in Rochdale around 430pm

 

[Bazza the dog]

Where is everyone planning to drink before the match ? We should be in Rochdale around 430pm

A boozer near the back of Rochdale station Barry as we've been told that is where all the action is.