Our prediction for this League 2 match:
Priestfield Stadium will host Saturday’s football game between Gillingham and Rochdale, the two teams who were beaten by AFC Wimbledon and Crewe respectively on Matchday 1. The Gills failed to create a descent goal-scoring opportunity in their opener, which is probably the main reason why home win should not be considered. Returnee Mikael Mandron is widely expected to lead the line for the hosts against Rochdale.
The Dale, on the other hand, are eager to make amends for the 2-1 loss to Crewe, and seeing that they will go fo a win in Saturday’s clash as well, we are tempted to put our money on both teams to score. A man to watch in the away team will be summer signing Devante Rodney, who has already started paying off. In their last encounter in the League Two the two sides played out a 2-2 draw.
Highlighted Player (Stuart O\'Keefe):
Stuart O’keefe is a an English footballer who started his senior career at Southend United. In August 2010 O’Keefe signed a one-year deal with Crystal Palace after impressing coach George Burley in a trial game against West Ham reserves.
The 173-cm-tall midfielder scored one goal in 36 appearances for the Eagles in the Premier League, finding the net in a 3-1 win over Sunderland on August 31, 2013. Stuart O’Keefe played for Blackpool on loan before moving to Cardiff City in the winter of 2015.
After his loan spells with Milton Keynes Dons, Portsmouth and Plymouth Argyle, O’Keefe moved to Gillingham at the end of the 2018/2019 season. He made his League One debut with the club on August 3, 2019 in a 1-1 draw with Doncaster Rovers. His main position is central midfield, but he is used as both defensive and attacking midfielder as well. His preferred foot is right.
Highlighted Team (Rochdale):
Nicknamed the Dale, Rochdale are a professional English club that compete in the League One (English third tier). Rochdale were founded back in 1907, after World War I, with the team beating Accrington Stanley 6-3 in their first league game 14 years later.
The Dale wear blue shirts with black stripes and blue shorts when playing at home, whilst gray is the dominant colour of their away kit. Spotland Stadium is the club’s home ground, with the venue holding no more than 10,249 spectators. Bury and Oldham Athletic are considered the club’s fiercest rivals, but they have built up rivalries with the likes of Halifax Town, Burnley, Stockport County, Wigan Athletic and Accrington Stanley as well.
Back in 1962 Rochdale made it to the Football League Cup final, with the team facing Norwich City in the title game. The Canaries proved to be a big catch for the Dale, but this is still considered the club’s biggest success. It has to be noted that the Spotland Stadium outfit have three Lancashire Cup titles as well (1948/1949, 1970/1971, 2004/2005).