'Dale boss John Coleman spoke to his club's official website ahead of his side's League One clash against Carlisle at Brunton Park tonight, Coleman trying to keep Rochdale's attempt to escape relegation on schedule :
“As it stands now, from what I have targeted and what I have planned for we are only two points behind schedule, and we can make inroads into that on Tuesday. We keep setting ourselves standards and we have got to try to stick to them, there is still a lot of football to be played and still a lot of points to be achieved and we have got to be striving to be in there amongst it at the end, and we are looking at our options and we are looking at the possibility of bringing somebody in upfront."
In team news for the visitors this evening they will definitely be missing three players while they also have doubts over a fourth. Starting in goal Peter Kurucz looks likely now to be out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, the on-loan West Ham stopper having been the recipient of the Lee Hughes challenge that saw the Notts County striker red carded at Spotland seven days ago. At centre-half meanwhile Kevin Amankwaah, who has played more at right-back in days gone by, has been out for a week and a half now with a groin and thigh problem.
The final ‘Dale absentee being former Carlisle left-winger Simon Hackney who has yet to play this season, the 28-year old having a reoccurrence of a long-term abdominal injury which required a further operation in early December. The one doubt for the visitors tonight meanwhile being midfielder Joe Thompson who hobbled off injured in the 87th minute of Rochdale’s 0-0 home draw with Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday. ‘Dale also yesterday releasing Angolan defender Kuagica David by mutual consent, David not making any appearances for the Spotland outfit having in late November, following a successful seven week trial spell, signed a deal to the end of the season.
The referee for this evening's match is Colin Webster from Shotley Bridge, and he will be assisted down the lines by Alf Greenwood from York and Barry Gordon from Chester-le-Street. Meanwhile the fourth official is Tony Harrington from Hartlepool.