Rochdale and York City are preparing for a final-day National League title decider. York City boss Stuart Maynard has described the match at Rochdale as “one of the biggest games in the English football pyramid”.
The Minstermen are currently top of the table, two points ahead of Rochdale going into Saturday’s match. Both teams have surpassed 100 points in their battle for the automatic promotion place to the English Football League.
Maynard Focuses on the Final Whistle
Maynard said his side is keeping things normal, while acknowledging the game’s magnitude. He told BBC Radio York that these are the games they want to be involved in. He added that externally it will be documented as probably one of the biggest games in the English football pyramid this weekend, but for them nothing changes.
Maynard emphasised the importance of being top of the league when the final whistle blows. He also said the players have been incredible, but all that matters is that come the final whistle they’re top of the league.
This is the second time in the past four seasons that two teams in the National League have accumulated over 100 points.
Dieseruvwe’s Late Goal Keeps Rochdale in the Race
Rochdale’s hopes of securing the title last Saturday were boosted by Dale striker Emmanuel Dieseruvwe, who scored an injury-time winner at relegated Braintree. This result ensured the battle for promotion would go down to the final day.
York’s home win over Yeovil had concluded with Rochdale’s match still in progress. York’s players followed the final minutes of Rochdale’s game on the pitch, hoping to celebrate ending the club’s 10-year wait for EFL football.
Moving On From Disappointment
Maynard said his side had moved on from last weekend’s blow. Maynard stated that the disappointment went very quickly. He added that there was a natural reaction of feeling down because you think you’ve got your hands on it and then it is taken away from you, but the minute they got in the dressing room they addressed the group.
Maynard told the players to go away and enjoy the weekend with their families and look at how far they’ve come. He believes they have performed in the same way they have all season. He credits this to the group.
Ebanks-Landell’s Perspective
Rochdale skipper Ethan Ebanks-Landell joked about the scheduling of the fixtures. He suggested that whoever put the fixtures out at the start of the year might be getting a little bonus for how it’s ended with the title race coming down to the final day.
The 33-year-old defender was part of the Dale squad who were relegated out of the Football League in 2022-23.
York’s Ollie Pearce is the division’s top scorer with 34 goals. Rochdale striker Emmanuel Dieseruvwe has scored 25 National League goals this season.
Ebanks-Landell credited the job boss