Rochdale vs Fleetwood Town Predictions

• Only Southend have accumulated fewer home points than Rochdale in League 1 this season.
• Fleetwood have scored double the goals away that Rochdale have at home this term.
• Both teams have found the net in six of Fleetwood’s last seven matches.

Goals in short supply

After a narrow, hard-fought victory at Rotherham, Brian Barry-Murphy would’ve been hoping that his side could go into the busy Christmas period on the up, but they were once again on the losing side on Saturday, as they lost by three goals to one at Pirelli Stadium.

It’s not been a good campaign for Dale, who’ll spend Christmas Day sat only five points clear of the drop-zone and who’ve lost six of their last seven league matches.

Defensively, as they’ve shipped 36 goals in 21 matches, Rochdale have been poor, but their main issue of late has been a lack of goals. Thursday’s hosts have scored just four goals in their last seven matches, while they’ve only scored eight at home all season. Their defence needs to toughen up, but if they’re to pull away from danger, then they’ll need to start scoring more goals.

Cod Army held back by faltering defence

Scoring goals has been little problem for Fleetwood, who’re the fourth-highest scorers in the division with 33 in 19 games, but they have been struggling at the other end of late and on the road in general.

Joey Barton’s men come into this fixture having conceded at least once in each of their last five League 1 games, shipping two or more in three of those. They’ve also conceded a worrying amount on the road. A total of 16 goals scored in nine away games is pleasing, though such a figure pales into insignificance somewhat when they’ve conceded a total of 18.

Defending has been a big issue for Fleetwood on the road, where they’ve kept just one clean sheet in nine and have shipped two or more on seven occasions, including each of their last four.

Goals, goals, goals

Given the defensive performances that both teams have thrown up in recent times, the early price on offer about ‘Over 2.5 Goals’ appears to be on the generous side. Rochdale haven’t scored loads at home, but they’ve got an excellent opportunity to improve in the final third. After all, Fleetwood’s recent defensive efforts on the road have been poor. Between Dale at home and The Cod Army on the road, an average of 3.4 goals are being conceded. What’s more, at least three goals have been scored in seven of Fleetwood’s eight travelling games this term.

In the ‘Correct Score’ market, a 3-2 win for the visitors is worth a small bet at a big price. For all Barton’s men have defended very poorly, they have offered lots more than Rochdale going forward. They’ll no doubt struggle to keep things tight again, but the visitors can outscore a home side that conceded three goals when last in action at this venue.