Rochdale vs Southend United - Betting Tips, H2H Analysis And Predictions Predictions

Rochdale vs Southend United – Betting Tips, H2H Analysis and Predictions –

The National League Playoffs continue on Thursday night with former Football League sides Rochdale and Southend United going head to head in a clash that will decide who goes through to the semi-final where Forest Green Rovers are waiting.

Our preview today regards a National League quarter-final eliminator, a one legged tie where the winner goes through whilst the loser is eliminated and takes no further part in the mini-tournament. Our two sides go into this on good form having picked up 10 and 8 points in their last 5 matches respectively which saw Rochdale consolidate themselves in 4th whilst Southend battled it out to secure 7th – landing them a place in the playoffs.

What’s for sure is that this match will have a winner, no matter what. So what do you need to know? Join me as we go through exactly what you need to know ahead of this crucial tie for both sides.

Key Statistics:

• Rochdale are a team that love to have the ball with Dale having a massive 73.6% of average possession this season – a stat only beaten by Champions Barnet this season.
• Rochdale have only picked up 1 red card during the entirety of the season – the joint best record of any team in the 5th tier.
• Southend go into the game with the lowest amounts of goals during the season for the 6 playoff sides. In contrast, Rochdale go into the game with the 2nd highest amount of goals during the campaign.
• Southend’s Gus Scott-Morriss has scored 15 goals in the National League from right back – the most of any defender in the league.

Team Previews –

Rochdale:

Predicted Lineup – (3-4-3) – Barrett, Beckwith, Ebanks-Landell, Kingdon, Buyabu, Edwards, East, Poku, Rodney, Bird, Henderson.

Looking to return to the Football League for the first time since 2023, Rochdale go into this fixture as the higher placed of the two sides and will aim to continue their strong end of the season which saw them win 3 in 5 and even without a win against Southend this season, they should go into the game with confidence.

Devante Rodney, a regular feature in the Rochdale starting 11, will look to reignite his form after a recent drought whilst Jay Bird and Ian Henderson will also look to contribute alongside Rodney in Dale’s defence.

Ryan East will also look to play a key part in midfield after recently returning to the Rochdale team and with Dale having 73.6% of possession on average this season, East alongside his midfield counterparts will play a key role in Rochdale’s gameplay.

In terms of availability, East will return having started against Braintree recently whilst most of Dale’s first team should be available for this crucial fixture.

Southend United –

Predicted Lineup (3-2-3-2) – Hayes, Ralph, Goodliffe, Scott-Morriss, Husin, Taylor, Coker, Bridge, Appiah-Forson, Hopper, Kendall.

Coming into the game as slight underdogs but having remained unbeaten against Rochdale, Southend United are aiming to return to the Football League for the first time since 2021 through this play-off campaign.

Top scorer Gus Scott-Morriss will be one to look out for having scored 15 this season whilst Charley Kendall will also aim to positively impact the team in the clash.

With just 48.1% average possession this season, this game looks to be a matchup of two styles and with either big scorelines or very small scorelines in their last 5 games, Southend will have to attack the game in order to get through.

In terms of availability, Southend have several key players such as the ones detailed above available and these will look to deliver for Southend on a Thursday night classic.

Head to Head Record:

Having met several times both in the National League and Football League, Rochdale and Southend United typically share games with goals in with a goalless affair not occurring in their last 7 meetings.

Last 5 Meetings:

• February 15th 2025 – Southend United 1-1 Rochdale
• October 19th 2024 – Rochdale 0-1 Southend United
• April 20th 2024 – Southend United 1-2 Rochdale
• September 30th 2023 – Rochdale 2-2 Southend United
• August 31st 2019 – Southend United 0-3 Rochdale

Betting Tips For Rochdale vs Southend United –

As previously mentioned, meetings between these two sides are typically ones with goals. However, this game is not a regular game with it being in the playoffs.

Therefore, given the circumstances of the game combined alongside Southend not conceding goals recently and with Rochdale looking inevitable to defend more than attack, our professional expert panel have decided the best tip for this game is an FT Under 2.5 Goals.

With Betfred, a £10 bet on this tip would earn you £18 with odds of 1.8.

Rochdale vs Southend United Prediction –

Given the circumstance of the game and taking into account the previews from both sides, we have gone with a tight home victory although think both sides will set up defensively

Football Park's Prediction - Rochdale 1-0 Southend United

Where to Watch –

This match is being broadcasted live on DAZN on Thursday 15th May with kick-off taking place at 19:45.