Carlisle United Football Club

It was a tough start to the season for Rochdale who lost all five of their opening league fixtures.

Robbie Stockdale paid the ultimate price after defeat number four, when he became the first managerial casualty of the campaign, with veteran defender Jim McNulty placed in temporary charge.

McNulty knows Dale inside out, having been there for close to seven years and with 200 plus league appearances to his name.

The board acted quickly to find a permanent solution, with former Morecambe and Fylde boss Jim Bentley drafted in to the post earlier this week.

A dramatic victory over Burton courtesy of two late goals had helped to lighten the mood, but they bowed out of the Carabao Cup at Hillsborough as Wednesday smashed three goals past them before the half-time whistle had blown.

Just one league goal scored up to last Saturday's home meeting with Crawley was a cause for concern, with the division's bottom two teams at the time both keen to take the spoils. The Red Devils drew first blood in time added on for the first half, but Dale secured a point when Tyrese Sinclair hit back with an hour played.

Tuesday took them to Accrington Stanley in the Papa Johns Trophy and that was a game that exploded into life after the break. Accie surged into a two-goal lead, but Jimmy Ball and Ian Henderson struck back to level things up. Ethan Brierley notched the away team's third goal in the space of just seven minutes, but substitute Tyrese Sinclair was in the wrong place at the wrong time as he put the ball into his own net in time added on. Stanley took the lift they'd received from that into the penalty shoot-out, and they knocked Dale out by four spot kicks to three.

Notable July transfer activity included the return of striker Ian Henderson on a one-year deal. The 37-year-old spent seven seasons with Dale after initially joining on loan in March 2013 and scored 126 goals in 343 appearances. He had most recently been at Salford.

We're going to go with that man Ian Henderson. 

He has the nouse and ability to cause problems and he's been a thorn in our side over the years.

Give him half a sight and he'll do a bit of damage, so we'll need to keep an eye on him on Saturday.

Click HERE to purchase an audio match pass which will allow you to listen to this game via our streaming iFollow service.

With match commentary provided by BBC Radio Cumbria, this is a fantastic way to follow your team through the season.

Match audio passes are available for ALL EFL league games - click HERE to find out more about this season’s iFollow United service.

Carlisle were at Spotland at the end of March 2022 and they set themselves on the way to victory courtesy of an early Liam Kelly penalty. Conor Grant wrapped the game up with 10 minutes left to go. 

Watch the highlights from that game here:

Rochdale were at Brunton Park at the beginning of March 2022 and an early goal from Omari Patrick out the hosts in the driving seat. Tobo Sho-Silve came off the bench to secure the victory with just over three minutes left to play.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

These teams came together in the Carabao Cup in August 2019 down at Spotland. Jack Bridge scored a second half penalty for United, but Aaron Morley and Matty Done had already done the damage, and it wad the Dale who progressed.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

Referee - Adam Herczeg
Assistant Referee 1 - Paul Newhouse
Assistant Referee 2 - Bradley Hall
Fourth Official - Andy Haines
Observer - James Devine

Our referee for this game is Mr Adam Herczeg. Adam has taken charge of four games so far this season showing 11 yellows and two reds.

This is his first time as the official in charge for a Carlisle United game.