Northampton vs Rochdale Prediction

Home form for Northampton, away form for Rochdale

Northampton's home record in League Two has been shaky lately. They've lost at home to both Tranmere and Rotherham in recent weeks, with wins and draws against Newport, Crawley and Swindon mixed in between.

Northampton: 20 completed matches; Rochdale: 20 completed matches.

Northampton

20 matches

Win

25% 5 / 20

Draw

30% 6 / 20

Loss

45% 9 / 20

Scored

18

Conceded

23

Difference

-5

Rochdale

20 matches

Win

20% 4 / 20

Draw

35% 7 / 20

Loss

45% 9 / 20

Scored

27

Conceded

42

Difference

-15

Rochdale's away games have been tougher still. Across their last six league trips they've managed only two draws and four defeats, with no away win since August. That's a pattern worth watching given they're on the road here.

Northampton's home dip and Rochdale's winless away run somewhat cancel each other out.

Comparative Team Statistics: Northampton vs Rochdale

A long history, but little recent context

These two have met plenty of times over the years, across League One, League Two and even an FA Cup tie. The most recent meeting was back in February 2023, a 1-1 draw at Rochdale.

Results have swung both ways down the years, with heavy wins for each side mixed among draws. Given how long it's been since they last played, that history doesn't tell us much about where either side stands now.

Where they sit in League Two

Rochdale are 13th with 14 points from 11 games, while Northampton are down in 22nd with 10 points from nine. Northampton have actually lost fewer games proportionally, but low goal numbers, six scored and seven conceded, have kept them anchored near the bottom.

Rochdale have scored and conceded more at both ends, 13 for and 15 against, suggesting a side involved in more open matches than Northampton.

Rochdale's table position looks better for now, though a month separates this snapshot from kickoff so things could shift.

Cards and creative threats to note

O. Adebayo-Rowling has picked up three yellows and a red in just six matches for Rochdale, while teammate D. Brown has chipped in two assists in eight games as one of their more creative outlets.

Northampton:

Penalty cards:

L. Evans x 1 x 1

Rochdale:

Best assist providers:

D. Brown - 2

Penalty cards:

O. Adebayo-Rowling x 1 x 3

E. Francis x 1 x 1

B. Bilongo x 1 x 1

On the Northampton side, L. Evans has also seen a yellow and a red card in only four appearances, hinting at a game that could have a few bookings if both sides' more combative players are on the pitch.

What kind of game this could be

Both teams have struggled to score consistently this season, and both defences have leaked goals too. That mix of inconsistent attack and shaky defence makes it hard to call a clear pattern for this one.

With Northampton's home form patchy and Rochdale yet to win away since August, neither side arrives with real control over territory or tempo. It looks like a match that could go either way.