If there's one team that hopes the old maxim 'third time lucky' rings true, then that team is Rochdale.
Nearly two-thirds through the season and the Dale are lying best placed to win their first promotion in 40 years!
Yes, it's 40 years since the homely, unfashionable Greater Manchester club had a move upward in the Football League set-up and after ex-Blackburn and Plymouth central defender Keith Hill has twice steered them to the League 2 play-offs in successive seasons, this campaign looks like the one that their ultimate aim could be achieved.
Going into Saturday's hosting of Daggers at their renovated Spotland Ground, nowadays shared with the town's Hornets Rugby League club, the Dale lead League 2 by three points, but with two games in hand on nearest rivals Bournemouth.
Daggers did the Lancashire club a great service last weekend by beating the Cherries 1-0 at Victoria Road, on a Saturday that Dale didn't have a fixture. They should have been entertaining Notts County, but the Magpies were still involved in the FA Cup -until the following day!
When Daggers last met Rochdale in late October, at home, the sides were in a three way tussle at the top of the table. Bournemouth completed the triangle. Dale won that encounter 2-1, coming back from a goal down and somewhat fortuitously.
But while Rochdale and Bournemouth have maintained their form and position at the head of the table, Daggers' recent run of poor form since the turn of the year, sees John Still's side go up to Greater Manchester in 11th spot and now 16 points behind the long-time leaders of the division.
Manager Keith Hill has been steadily building Dale's bid over several seasons. He has unearthed some home-grown talent such as the much admired Will Buckley, plucked from north-west non-league football with Curzon Ashton and sold to Championship Watford for £300,000 in the last transfer window.
Hill resisted interest in his outstanding central defender Craig Dawson, also unearthed in non-league around Manchester with Unibond Leaguers Radcliffe Borough. Championship Scunthorpe came in with a £250,000 bid for Dawson, but Hill persuaded his man to stay put, obviously explaining that Dale and the Iron could be in the same division next season.
He has also recruited wisely, making the on-loan Chris O'Grady's move from near neighbours Oldham a permanent arrangement, after a half-a-season loan. O'Grady has contributed 16 goals to the Dale campaign so far with ex-Tranmere striker Chris Dagnall weighing in with 14.
Only three sides have gone to Spotland this season and come away with maximum points. Cheltenham achieved it third game into the season by a 1-0 margin, fellow promotion contenders Chesterfield came out on top of a five goal thriller 3-2 and Accrington held on for a slender 1-0 win back in November.
Rochdale aren't in their best form coming into the game, although they did inflict a 4-1 thrashing on Cheltenham away from home last month, no doubt to take revenge for that early season reversal.
That and a 2-0 home success over Crewe in their last outing a fortnight ago have been their only victories in the past six games, a run which also includes a 1-0 loss to neighbours Bury, also firmly in promotion contention, in a televised game in front of 6,500 at Gigg Lane, three weeks ago.
Hill has settled side and his only selection dilemma seems to be whether to bring back the influential Jason Kennedy in central midfield for club skipper Gary Jones. Kennedy was rested for the victory over Crewe.
If Daggers' boss John Still adopts a 'you are only as good as your last performance' stance, then there is unlikely to be any change from the side that conquered Bournemouth, which would mean Graeme Montgomery, who made an impressive first appearance of the season, would retain his place.
Likely teams:- Rochdale: Fielding, Wiseman, Stanton, Dawson, Kennedy (T); Atkinson, Jones, Obadeyi, Taylor; O'Grady, Dagnall.
Dagenham & R:- Roberts, Ogogo, Doe, Arber, McCrory; Green, Pack, Gain, Montgomery; Benson, Scott.
Referee: Kevin Wright
