ROCHDALE will play host to York City tomorrow having won just three of their 13 home matches this season.

York Press: Benenden Healthcare Society - Proud sponsor of York City FC

The Lancashire club have needed to rely on impressive away form to cement their current eighth-placed standing in the League Two table although they did beat Bristol Rovers 2-1 during their last Spotland outing.

But John Coleman’s team are yet to triumph against any side higher than the 17th-placed Minstermen in front of their own fans this term and their return of home wins is the lowest among sides in the top two thirds of the table.

Only second-bottom Aldershot (three) have mustered fewer home goals, meanwhile, than the nine netted by Dale, although a record of only six goals conceded on their own territory is the best in the division.

Coleman’s men are without a clean sheet in six contests though and ended a League run of five games undefeated with a 3-1 loss at Southend last weekend.

On-loan Shrewbury striker Terry Gornell had fired the visitors ahead in that game, ending his 18-game wait for a goal in the process.

Gornell and nine-goal leading marksman Bobby Grant are expected to continue flanking 37-year-old veteran Dele Adebola in a three-pronged strikeforce although former Fleetwood striker George Donnelly could be an alternative after impressing recently from the bench.

Former Scunthorpe striker Grant has actually scored 11 times this season, having bagged a brace for the Iron in a 5-5 Capital One Cup draw at Derby before being reunited with his old Accrington manager Coleman following an August transfer.

The 22-year-old forward was previously sold to Scunthorpe for £260,000 by Coleman in 2010.

Dale have no injury or suspension concerns ahead of tomorrow’s game and are expected to give the same starting XI a chance to make amends for the defeat at Southend.

Joe Rafferty is, however, putting pressure on Phil Edwards for the right-back slot.

Accrington (probable): Lillis, P Edwards, R Edwards, Bennett, McIntyre, Kavanagh, Tutte, Kennedy, Gornell, Adebola, Grant.

MATCH facts

CITY have met Rochdale in the Football League no fewer than 100 times, which is more than any other club.

On their 50 trips to Spotland they have won 20 times with seven draws.

City’s biggest triumphs at this venue have been 6-3 in 1933/4 and 4-1 in 1932/3.

They have won on the last two visits – 1-0 in 2002/3 when Peter Duffield was on target and 2-1 on December 28, 2003 with Lee Nogan netting both goals.

The line-up that day was: Ovendale, Edmondson, Smith, Brass, Hope, Merris, Ward, Cooper (Brackstone), Dunning, Bullock, Nogan (Shaw).

Players who have appeared for both clubs include Graeme Crawford, Gordon Morritt, Billy Rudd, Laurie Calloway, Joe Ashworth, Jimmy Seal, Chris Jones and Shaun Reid.

It happened on December 1

1937: A Reg Baines goal earned a 1-0 win at Halifax Town in a first round FA Cup replay.

1956: Darlington were beaten 1-0 at Bootham Crescent thanks to an Arthur Bottom goal. The attendance for this Fourth Division encounter was 8,153.

1979: A 5-1 Fourth Division home victory over Port Vale with Peter Lorimer (2), Andy Clements, Kevin Randall and Ian McDonald on the scoresheet in front of 2,402.

1990: Tony Canham and Glenn Naylor netted in a 2-2 home draw against Scunthorpe United in the Fourth Division watched by 2,495.

2007: In the Blue Square Premier, City and Crawley Town drew 1-1 at Bootham Crescent. Onome Sodje was the marksman.

Compiled by David Batters