Our prediction for this League 2 match:
Rochdale
Match Time & Date:
27/08/2021
02:45 PM
Prediction: 2-0
Colchester
Rochdale will be aiming to build on the EFL Cup win over Shrewsbury Town when they take on Colchester United in the opening match of the League Two day 5. The Dale have been showing signs of improvement of late, and, no doubt, they are brimming with confidence ahead of Saturday’s clash. The U’s, on the other hand, aim to build on a 2-1 win over Oldham Athletic.
Colchester United suffered a loss in each of their last four meetings with Rochdale, which is probably the main reason why we are not tempted to put our money on the visiting team. Colchester defender Tom Eastman suffered an injury in the 1-1 draw with Mansfield, which is yet another reason why home win should be considered. Teenage attacker Josh Andrews returns to Rochdale’s starting XI after he was rested in the EFL Cup clash.
Highlighted Player (Ryan McLaughlin):
Ryan McLaughlin is a Northern Ireland international who plays for Rochdale in the League One as a right-back. McLaughlin started his youth career at Glenavon back in 2009 and two years later he was spotted by Liverpool scouts, who persuaded him to join the Reds youth academy.
However, instead of playing for Liverpool at senior level, the Northern Ireland defender spent two seasons on loan at Barnsley and Aberdeen before moving to Oldham Athletic. After scoring three goals in 52 league appearances for the club, Ryan McLaughlin joined Rochdale in 2019 for an undisclosed fee.
McLaughlin made his League One debut with the Dale on January 26, 2019 in a 2-1 loss at Barnsley. Speaking of his international career, the pacey right-back made his Northern Ireland debut on May 31, 2014 in a friendly against Uruguay. It has to be noted that the Rochdale defender can be used as both left-back and right midfielder as well.
Highlighted Team (Colchester):
Founded in 1937, Colchester United are a professional football club that compete in the League Two, the English fourth tier. The U’s welcome their rivals at Colchester Community Stadium, the venue which has the capacity of 10,105 people.
Colchester United are well known for their blue kit, but white is the dominant colour of their away kit. The U’s have an official fans association known as the CUSA. Colchester supporters consider Wycombe Wanderers the club’s fiercest rivals, but the rivalries with Southend United and Ipswich Town are big as well. Colchester United did well to win the FA Trophy in the 1991/92 season, with the team clinching the Essex Senior Cup trophy in the 2009/10 season.
In December 1961 the U’s recorded their biggest win, with the team rolling over Bradford City 9-1 in the Fourth Division. Colchester United repeated the success 44 years later as they hammered Leamington 9-1 in the FA Cup round 1.
Southampton
Liverpool
Ipswich
Manchester United
Napoli
AS Roma
Leganes
Real Madrid
Lazio 
Bologna 
Nice 
Strasbourg 
