Chester City		Rochdale AFC
1. Chris MacKenzie		1. Matthew Gilks
2. Stephen Vaughan		2. Warren Goodhind
3. Carl Regan		3. Tony Gallimore
4. Shaun Hessey		4. Ernie Cooksey
5. Phil Bolland		5. Gareth Griffiths
6. Luke Dimech		6. Jonathan Boardman
7. Stuart Drummond		7. Lee Cartwright
8. Michael Branch		8. Neil Brisco
9. Gregg Blundell		9. Grant Holt
10. Ryan lowe		10. Paul Tait
11. Tom Curtis		11. Gary Jones
14. Ben Davies		12. Alan Goodall
15. Dave Artell		14. Scott Warner
17. Craig Dove		15. Rory McArdle
20. Tom Curle		16. Tommy Jaszczun
21. Abdul El Kholti		17. Rickie Lambert
22. Scott McNiven		18. Jamie Clarke
23. Marcus Richardson		19. Blair Sturrock
30. Justin Walker		20. Clive Moyo-Modise
		21. Ben Kitchen
		24. Kevin Gibbins
		27. Gary Brown
		28. Danny Woodhall

Chester's star striker Gregg Blundell will not be a feature of the squad which Keith Curle will send to Rochdale on Saturday.

Blundell has not been a feature of a Chester squad, since he was delivered a blow by goalkeeper Matthew Gilks 6 weeks ago. And a late training ground injury to his thigh has ruled him out for the past month since.

And indeed, travelling fans can expect to meet with Gilks when, as expected, he will turn out for Rochdale at Spotland on Saturday.

Indeed, it was Gilks' sickening foul, which left Chester fans expecting the worst, in the return fixture back in October.

Othwise, a week's training following a 0-0 draw with Northampton on Saturday, has left Keith Curle with a near full squad to pick from.

The exception to that is defender Shan Hessey. The former Kilamrnock defender picked up a knee injury midweek, but he has struggled to hold a place in the Chester squad this season.

rochdale news

Rochdale's leading scorer Grant Holt should be fit despite missing training this week after a collison with Bristol Rovers keeper Scott Shearer last week.

Warren Goodhind is also expected to be back after a thigh injury, but fellow defender Gareth Griffiths is banned.

chestercity.tk predicts

Marcus Richardson has been backed to start again in place of Gregg Blundell.
Chester's gangly 6'3 forward delievered his display of the season in the first half last weekend.
Keith Curle has given his forward backing ahead of the tie to deliver goals, as well as cause a nuisance in Rochdale's defence, simply with his presence, and ability which he showed against Northampton.
Otherwise, Curle has given no indication he will change the squad around. Phil Bolland may play some part after he admitted on Friday he expects his defender to score goals this season. He will be vying with Dave Artell and Luke Dimech for a rare start. Curle will select from: Justin Walker; Stephen Vaughan (who respectively scored and captained the reserve team midweek); Abdul El Kholti; Ryan Brookfield; Craig Dove, and Phil Bolland.
Youngsters Paul Rutherford and Tom Curle will also be want to appear.

curle's preview

“Our last match against Rochdale was a very tight game - any side could have come out of the clash victorious, but on the night it came down to an individual mistake.

“We know Rochdale are a good team, but I also think Rochdale know that we’re a good team, so I think it will be a toe to toe encounter.

“They’ve got goals in their team with Grant Holt, Rickie Lambert, and Gary Jones in midfield, but I feel we’ve got enough in our team to beat them.

“I’ve been very pleased with the response of the players - they have been bright and breezy in training.

“We’re starting to gel and our players are now starting to understand each others strengths and weaknesses. They understand their jobs, but sometimes we’re going to have a wobble like we did the other week at Shrewsbury.

“We know that if we can find our stride and tempo of play quickly then we’ll be a force for anybody.

“Our last match against Rochdale produced great football - it was the only occasion this season when I came away feeling happy about our defeat because I thought our performance level was superb.

“Rochdale boss Steve Parkin has his team playing on the front foot which is exactly the same way I like my side to play.

“The principles in tomorrow’s game will be exactly the same as our match at home to Northampton last weekend. We will have to play within our shape, then I know we’ll be a goal threat.”

'The momentum we had in the early part of the season was because we were doing the simple things quickly and crisply, so that's what we are working on in training. We don't want to complicate our style of play."

parkin's preview

“If Saturday is anything like the game in October we are in for a rollercoaster ride.”

“Chester are a good side and Keith Curle will bring them here looking for three points. We have to be ready for them and our supporters have a big part to play.

“They will back their team when they see their players totally committed we will once again need this vocal support. We will need our fans to get the atmosphere going.”

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