THE CHALKBOARD

Swindon Advertiser:

Rochdale boss Keith Hill

WE may only be 13 games into the season but it has already been a campaign of two halves for Keith Hill’s side.

Having picked up just one win in their opening 10 fixtures, Rochdale are on a seven-game winning streak in all competitions, which sees them sit just three places off top spot.

Despite having lost influential players like Ian Henderson and Peter Vincenti to injury, with their medical list challenging Swindon Town’s own, Hill has turned to youth and they have delivered.

Academy products, Callum Camps, Andy Cannon and Aaron Morley have all stepped up to the plate in recent weeks.

Part of that success has been down to Rochdale having kept clean sheets in four of their last five outings in all competitions.

A MAN IN FORM - Nathaniel Mendez-Laing

Swindon Advertiser:

Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (right) pictured with Bradley Barry during last season's FA Cup tie

SWINDON Town fans will be all too familiar with the name Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.

The Rochdale winger single-handedly dumped Town out of the FA Cup last season as Martin Ling, overseeing his first game in charge, was powerless to stop him netting a hat-trick.

It will concern to Town supporters this evening that the 24-year-old seems to be hitting another rich vein of form.

Much like the lead up to last season’s first round tie at Spotlands, Mendez-Laing has not been a regular feature of Keith Hill’s side so far.

However, after coming off the bench to replace an injured Joe Thompson in the first half against Southend United, he took his chance by notching in the 3-0 success.

With Thompson still sidelined, Mendez-Laing started against Bury on Saturday and again found himself on the scoresheet.

TREATMENT ROOM

ROCHDALE midfielder Peter Vincenti is the biggest name on what is a lengthy injury list for Keith Hill.

The 30-year-old underwent an operation earlier this month on a recurring ankle injury, which has seen him ruled out of action since their 2-1 win over Fleetwood back in mid-September.

Following the operation, the influential play-maker is expected to be out of action for between three and four months.

Fellow midfielder Jamie Allen will also miss tonight’s trip to Wiltshire after picking up a knee injury against Charlton Athletic at the start of October, ruling him out for between six to eight weeks.

Keith Hill was boosted by the return of captain and top goal scorer Ian Henderson, who has been absent since suffering concussion at the end of last month, and Matty Lund, who was away on international duty, at the weekend, with both likely to start at the County Ground.

Jim McNulty and Joe Thompson are doubts.

LIKELY LINEUP

Swindon Advertiser:

OPPO FORM GUIDE

Tue, Sep 27
Skybet League One
1-0 win v Bolton (H)

Sat, Oct 1
Skybet League One
1-0 win v Charlton (A)

Tue, Oct 4
EFL TROPHY
2-1 win v Notts County (h)

Sat, Oct 8 
Skybet League One
3-0 win v Southend (H)

Sat, Oct 15
Skybet League One
2-0 win v Bury (H)

GOALSCORERS

Ian Henderson: 6

Calvin Andrew: 3

Andy Cannon: 3

DISCIPLINE

Neil Canavan: 3Y, 1R

Callum Camps: 1Y 1R

Matthew Lund: 4Y

THE STAT

THERE has never been a goalless draw in this fixture at the County Ground, with 10 goals in the last three fixtures.