Opposition View - Rochdale

How do you assess your sides recent form?

It's pretty good really. It was a very good win on Saturday considering Rotherham were on the back of seven straight wins. Scoring four goals away from home against a club that is riding high is great. We had a really good week last week. We won away at Accrington as well so we're doing quite well at the moment. We see ourselves as an entertaining side and a young side.

Murray... Chief threat

We had a goaless draw against Wrexham the week before and the manager wasn't very complimentary about the particular way they played but you have got to understand that the opponents were in a fight. They came and shut up shop really and it was a bit more difficult for us. On another day we don't hit the bar and don't have one cleared off the line but it just wasn't to be. From that we've gone away from home and done particularly well - so things are good.

Who is your danger man?

Glenn Murray was one of the leading scorers in the division last year and is in particularly good form at the moment. He has just started to come into some form after a slow start to the season. He is still only a young player to be fair. Murry has just been with us 12 months now and he came in on loan orginally in October last year. He came here and formed a good relationship with Chris Dagnall last year. When you bear in mind that Murray didn't get going until October last season, he has got the potential to be a 20 goal-a-season striker. Along with Dagnall he is probably as good as you're going to get in this division. Murray works hard for the side and he is capable of holding it up. He has scored some goals from set pieces of late but he is equally important in defending them at the other end. So his all round team play is important.

Who else should we look out for?

Gary Jones is playing well from midfield supporting the front boys. Young Higgingbottom is getting quite a lot of attention at the moment. We spent a decent amount of money on Adam Le Fondre as well from Stockport in the summer. And we cannot forget Lee McEvilly. They are all players that can change a game and can win a game. But probably at this moment in time our player of the year is our left-back Tom Kennedy who has been our most consitent player this season.

What do you make of the goings on at Notts County so far this season?

Well they had a good win at the weekend. We obviously had them watched. It has been a bit in and out for Notts really. They're not where we would expect Notts County to be. But having said that you've played Shrewsbury and beaten them. If you look at the division it's very tight but there are a couple of exceptional sides like MK Dons, Peterborough and Darlington. These are

MacKenzie... In for a battle

sides that are spending a considerable amount of money. Having said that no-one is running away with it. There have been strange results. So everyone is there to be beaten. So if Notts can string two or three wins together it can all turn around.

Who do you see as Notts' danger man?

Well to be fair it's not something I get too involved with but one thing I'm quite sure of is that our boys would have done their homework because that is what they are paid to do. I'm sure they will look at all the options that Notts are likely to throw at us. But I think they'll need to know plenty about Neil MacKenzie. He has been around for a while. The name rings a lot of bells. If he plays in the centre of midfield it is likely to be a good battle. Our captain Gary Jones is in some good form at the moment. He scored at the weekend but aside of that he has been playing very well. He has produced some real captain performances. He rolls his sleeves up and gets stuck in. It should be a good battle.

Where do you think Rochdale will finish this season?

Well looking at the way the table is geared up at the moment I don't want to get carried away but I would like to see us at the very least in the top six. I think it is very achievable. We are a game behind most other clubs. We would love to get promoted as would any other club particularly so for us because it's our centenary. And I do see from recent weeks that sixth and seventh place is very attainable for us.

Where do you think Notts will finish this season?

Well I am surprised to see them where they are that's for sure. I may have a better idea when I've seen them on Saurday but Notts County are a club that during my involvement in football have always been easy to get on with. I was at Macclesfield the year that you went up with Big Sam Allardyce.

Allardyce... Masterminded title success a decade ago

Macclesfield were on your tails at the time and I remember chasing you. It was a good year. We had a couple of very tight encounters. You thoroughly deserved to win it that year. You would look at Notts and see the potential that they've got as a club. They are under performing in terms of their league position at this moment in time because obviously they're a club that will want to get back to the top level. But it all depends on the playing staff you've got this year. Don't give up yet look where we were two weeks ago.

What sort of encounter are you expecting?

I'd like to think that it will be an open game of football. Everyone talks about reuslts and without doubt results matter, but if you can achieve a result with a performance which is what we did last week, it's better. I'd like to think we could see an open and entertaining game but that might not be in your managers agenda.

Prediction?

I never predict scores. I just wouldn't know where to go. It would be a little bit foolish. I would like to think that we would win as well as comfortably and with entertainment like we did last week. We all want to win.