Match preview: Rochdale v Wednesday

15 September 2020

It’s back to the Carabao Cup for the Owls tonight as they head to League One side Rochdale.

Garry Monk’s side progressed from round one with a penalty shootout victory over Walsall.

For Dale, who are managed by ex-Owl Brian Barry-Murphy, they had to overcome Championship opposition in the form of Huddersfield at the John Smith’s Stadium.

An Eoghan O'Connell second half goal was enough to seal the win.

Wednesday made the perfect start to the campaign after defeating a tough Cardiff side 2-0 away from home last weekend.

For this evening’s hosts, following a win in the EFL Cup over the Terriers and an EFL Trophy victory over Morecambe, Rochdale slipped to a 3-1 loss away at Swindon in their opening League One fixture.

This will be Rochdale’s first home game of the new season and here’s all you need to know ahead of the game;

MATCH DETAILS

- Date: Tuesday 15 September
- Kick-off, 7.45pm
- EFL Cup
- Crown Oil Arena

PENALTIES

In the result of a draw after 90 minutes, the game will go straight to a penalty shootout.

iFOLLOW

Sheffield Wednesday’s trip to Rochdale in the second round of the Carabao Cup will be streamed live on iFollow this evening.

Fixtures that are not scheduled for TV will be streamed online, with one-camera coverage in the UK only.

Full details on streaming tonight's match here

TEAM NEWS

SWFC: Julian Börner was missing from the Owls’ matchday squad for Saturday’s trip to Cardiff through illness. The defender is expected to be back available for selection for the cup clash.

With games coming thick and fast throughout September, the Owls will make changes from the 2-0 victory in the Welsh capital.

Monk said: “There will be some changes. How many will depend on how we recover after our first competitive game. Cardiff was a hard game and you could see the lads gave everything.

"It will be an opportunity for whoever plays. We have that winning mentality now and we want to try and continue that for as long as possible."

Rochdale: The Dale boss has confirmed that Manchester City loanee Yeboah Amankwah will play this evening, as will defender Jim McNulty, who is building up his fitness after injury.

Barry-Murphy said: “It’ll also give us a chance to rest a couple of our players, who again are feeling the effects of what has been a very intensive start to the season.”

Owls boss on Rochdale: “It's up to the players and that's how it should be. It's up to them when they have an opportunity to prove a point and prove that they deserve to be at this club.

"That will always come down to the players. I've tried to give them opportunity, I've given them opportunity in pre-season. There were opportunities against Cardiff and there will be opportunities on Tuesday.”

Dale manager Barry-Murphy said: “It’s a brilliant chance for us to pit our wits against one of the biggest clubs in the UK. It’s a chance for us to use the squad, even though we haven’t got many numbers.”

PLAYED FOR BOTH – Jordan Rhodes

The Owls striker had a brief loan spell with Dale between September and December 2008.

Rhodes made five appearance for Rochdale, who were then a League Two side and scored two goals.

LAST MEETING – 25 January 2014 | Rochdale 1-2 Owls

LAST FIVE V ROCHDALE

Rochdale 1-2 Owls - 25 January 2014 - FA Cup
Rochdale 0-0 Owls - 3 March 2012 - League One
Owls 2-0 Rochdale - 06 August 2011 - League One
Rochdale 2-1 Owls - 12 February 2011 - League One
Owls 2-0 Rochdale - 13 November 2010 League One

Match Reports

Report: Rochdale 0-2 Wednesday

15 September 2020

Elias Kachunga opened his Wednesday account and Josh Windass made it two in two to guide Wednesday to the third round of the Carabao Cup at the expense of League One Rochdale.

The Owls emerged 2-0 winners at the Crown Oil Arena in a scoreline that flattered the hosts as Wednesday dominated every aspect of the game.

Goals from Kachunga and substitute Windass proved enough, though, and Wednesday face a third round trip to either Fulham or Ipswich.

It was all change for the Owls over the Pennines as Garry Monk switched personnel in every position.

Ciaran Brennan made his debut at centre half amid a completely shuffled Wednesday pack punctuated by academy graduates, with no less than 10 in total.

And after a promising start by Dale, during which Alex Newby warmed the gloves of Joe Wildsmith, the young Owls took a grip on the game.

Adam Reach executed a whipped set piece that brushed the top of the net and was then a whisker away from getting to an Alex Hunt through-ball.

The Wednesday pressure continued and the enterprising Hunt saw a hooked effort cleared off the line by Eoghan O’Connell and Rochdale managed to clear their lines.

Wildsmith remained a spectator as half time approached with the visitors in command but short only of that vital breakthrough.

But that almost came immediately after the resumption when Hunt unleashed a goal-bound drive from distance that keeper Gavin Bazunu expertly palmed wide at full stretch.

Reach slammed past the post via a deflection moments later and the sense was one of a goal on the horizon – which duly arrived on 54 minutes.

Liam Palmer delivered a gem of a cross from the right that Kachunga directed with power past Bazunu.

The Owls were well on top and Palmer fed Reach this time who was again thwarted by the diving Bazunu.

Reach went closer still with 15 minutes to go, crashing a thunderous hit that cannoned off the bar back into play from a counter led by Windass.

Bazuna denied Windass with a fine save that just cleared the woodwork as Wednesday pressed for a second goal to kill the contest.

Börner and Windass spurned chances before the latter finally concluded matters on 86 minutes with an unstoppable shot on the angle from a simple set piece.

Wednesday: Wildsmith, Palmer, Shaw, Brennan (Iorfa 80), Börner, Odubajo, Hunt, Pelupessy (Grant 88), Dele-Bashiru, Reach, Kachunga (Windass 70)