Greater Manchester duo Rochdale and Bury contest in FA Cup
Published:
Sam Barnard, Assistant Sports Editor | December 5, 2015
Rochdale v Bury
- FA Cup second round
- Sunday, December 6th
- Kick-off: 12:00 GMT
- Spotland, Rochdale
- Live on BT Sport 2
Draw destined for Spotland duel
Both Rochdale and Bury gained convincing wins in their respective home FA Cup first round clashes against fellow League One outfits Swindon Town and Wigan Athletic, and it is the former who get hosting advantage for this encounter.
However, don’t expect to see many goals, with their last two meetings being 0-0 results. Back that scoreline once more at an enticing 9/1 price with Coral, while a match total of under 1.5 is a safer 5/2.
A draw, as has been the result in three of their last four head-to-heads, is 23/10, which would ensure a reverse fixture replay at Gigg Lane.
Rochdale will be buoyed by the fact that they’re undefeated in their last four matches with Bury, winning three, so are the 6/5 favourites. The visitors (11/5), though, sit three points and as many places above their Greater Manchester rivals.
Mendez-Laing and Clarke respective striking stars
Despite these two team’s lack of goals against each other, they do have a number of stars capable of finding the net.
Keith Hill’s Dale will be without injured duo Jamie Allen and Matty Lund, but will be able to call upon hat-trick hero against Swindon last time out in the cup Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.
The former Peterborough United winger is a very tempting 2/1 shout just to net anytime again here, while he is 11/1 to bag a brace or better.
Others to look out for include striking duo Ian Henderson and Jersey international Peter Vincenti, who are both priced at 6/4 in the anytime market.
Former Man Utd players aplenty for Bury
For Bury, managed by David Flitcroft who has worked with Hill before, they will be hoping that Leon Clarke can keep up his scoring form after getting 12 this term and netting last in their rout over Wigan.
Journeyman Clarke tops his side’s market at 5/4 in the anytime market but, if he fails to strike, Flitcroft has a number of ex-Manchester United academy players to call upon.
Chris Eagles (5/1) is perhaps the most notable former Red Devil, while Daniel Nardiello (2/1), Danny Pugh, Reece Brown and Keil O’Brien also spent time on the Old Trafford books as youths.
One man who won’t be able to feature for Bury, though, is highly-rated on-loan Leicester City striker Joe Dodoo, who has not been given permission to play in the FA Cup by the joint-Premier League leaders.
Related
Coral’s top tip: With just one goal being scored in the last three meetings between Rochdale and Bury, take odds of 5/2 for the match total to be under 1.5 once more.
