Dale could make changes for cup clash

Posted Friday, November 30, 2018 by PA

Keith Hill may respond to Rochdale’s defeat at Oxford in midweek by tinkering with his starting XI for the FA Cup second round encounter with Portsmouth.

Hill changed the formation and made five changes for the trip to the Us – with Jim McNulty, Connor Randall, Ollie Rathbone, Sam Hart and Aaron Wilbraham starting.

The plan backfired as Rochdale conceded four times although Rathbone completed the 90 minutes, having spent a month on the sidelines because of injury.

Defender Kgosi Ntlhe and midfielder Andy Cannon remain on the sidelines but Hill has no fresh injury or suspension concerns.

David Wheeler is a major doubt for Portsmouth.

The on-loan QPR winger made a cameo appearance off the bench in Tuesday night’s win over Walsall but back and hamstring issues are likely to preclude his involvement at Spotland.

Striker Joe Mason’s groin is still sore so he will miss out, as will midfielder Dion Donohue, who has been struggling with a hamstring injury in recent weeks.

Jamal Lowe played the entirety of the clash against the Saddlers while Gareth Evans lasted 85 minutes, with the pair both doubts beforehand.