Rochdale and York set for 'unique' title-decider

The Minstermen's home win over Yeovil had finished with Dale still level in their match and players had followed the final minutes of Rochdale's game on the pitch hoping they would be able to celebrate ending the club's 10-year wait for EFL football.

Boss Maynard said his side, who finished second with 96 points under Adam Hinshelwood last season before losing to Oldham in the play-offs, had moved on from that blow.

"The disappointment went very quickly," Maynard said.

"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 we got in the dressing room we addressed the group and said 'look you've got to go away now and enjoy the weekend with your families and look at how far we've come'.

"The pressure does mount but I believe we have performed in the same way we have all season and that is a credit to the group."

'I'll take winning 10-9!'

Rochdale skipper Ethan Ebanks-Landell joked 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.

He credited the job boss Jimmy McNulty and the club's owners, the Ogden family -who took over in May 2024 - have done in turning things around for the Greater Manchester side.

They finished 11th in their first season in National League before coming fourth last time out.

"When we did get relegated it was a tough, tough pill to swallow," Ebanks-Landell told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"I think the club was in a bad place and it was tough when we came into this league.

"Over the last two years we've grown and grown and it's been a project managed by the gaffer and the new owners coming in."

Ebanks-Landell, who played in the Championship for Wolves and won the League One title with Sheffield United at the start of his career, called the final-day decider "unique".

Two points behind their opponents, Rochdale must win to secure the title and he said he is not concerned how they get that result.

"As a defender a goal-fest doesn't sound great but whatever it takes for us to get the points and get promoted I'll take it. If it's 10-9 then I'll take 10-9 no issues!" he said.

Rochdale captain Ethan Ebanks-Landell has made 42 appearances in the National League this season [Shutterstock]

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Free-scoring York going for the win

Tickets for the match sold out last month and more than 4,000 York fans will be watching the game on big screens at the club's LNER Stadium home.

Maynard, who took over from Hinshelwood in August, praised the level of support his side have received all season.

He also said the travelling fans at Spotland can "play a bigger part than they imagine" on Saturday.

"The way the York fans have travelled this season, they have been so loud and done the whole city proud," Maynard said.

"I back them and know they will be singing from minute one. They'll play a huge part on Saturday, more than they imagine.

"If they can get their early and make the atmosphere like they have in the last few home games it's going to play a big, big part."

The Minstermen have scored 113 goals so far this season, 19 more than anyone else in the league.

Although a draw would be enough for his side, the former Notts County boss has said York will approach the match as they have every other this campaign.

"We prepare to win games because I think if you prepare looking to draw games then you come off your intensity and the intent for how you want to attack," he said.

"That is not something that we as a management team have built our teams on. It's not something we intend to do.

"We want to be on the front foot for every passage of play from minute one."

BBC Sport will be running a live text commentary page of Rochdale v York (12:30 BST kick-off) on Saturday