Rochdale v Southend preview

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Rochdale boss Keith Hill has an almost full-strength squad to choose from for his side’s home game against Southend.

Hill has no new injury or suspension worries as Dale bid to end their three-game goal drought and return to the top of the table with a first win in four matches.

Leading goalscorer Scott Hogan suffered no reaction after returning to the starting line-up last week following a knee injury and is expected to resume. The last of his 19 goals this season was on March 1 when he scored a hat-trick against Oxford.

Dale lost 3-0 at Mansfield last week and require seven points from their final four games to guarantee automatic promotion.

Southend manager Phil Brown could shuffle his pack for the clash with Rochdale after a damaging defeat last time out.

Brown’s men went down 1-0 at home to AFC Wimbledon on Saturday, a loss which left them just one point clear of eighth-placed York.

Barry Corr and Jacob Murphy, who has made three substitute appearances but has yet to start since his loan switch from Norwich, are likely to benefit should Brown make changes.

Goalkeeper Paul Smith is still struggling with a calf problem so Luke Chambers could continue on the bench.

Rochdale v Southend preview

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Rochdale have no new injury worries as they look to record three consecutive wins for the first time this season against Southend.

Dale are unbeaten in four matches and face the Johnstone’s Paint trophy finalists following back-to-back away victories over play-off hopefuls Exeter and Fleetwood.

Joe Rafferty is expected to retain his place in defence having replaced Kevin McIntyre at half-time before a 1-0 deficit was turned around against Exeter.

Ex-Shrewsbury forward Terry Gornell is back from a groin injury, but will probably have to settle for a place alongside McIntyre among the substitutes after George Donnelly scored his fifth goal in seven matches at Fleetwood.

Midfielder Ritchie Jones remains a major doubt having been sidelined for the past month with an ankle problem, while Andrew Tutte, Rhys Bennett (both knee) and Reece Gray (broken leg) are both long-term absentees.

Southend welcome back Marc Laird and Mickey Spillane for the trip to Rochdale as they look to put their Johnstone’s Paint Trophy disappointment behind them.

The midfield pair were both cup-tied for Sunday’s 2-0 final defeat to Crewe at Wembley, but return to the fold at Spotland as the Shrimpers aim to finish the season with a flourish and gatecrash the play-off picture.

Captain Chris Barker made his first appearance for five weeks against the Alex having recovered from an Achilles injury and, despite being substituted after 57 minutes, is expected to be available.

Luke Prosser (hip/ribs) and Ben Reeves (calf) also passed fitness tests to be involved at Wembley and should again feature against Dale, but Michael Timlin (broken leg) and Neil Harris (knee) remain sidelined.

The Shrimpers, currently 12th in League Two, are six points adrift of the play-offs ahead of their game in hand.