Carlisle United are short-odds favourites to defy Rochdale's new manager bounce today.

The game at Brunton Park is Jim Bentley's first league match in charge of the visitors.

But a former Rochdale boss - Paul Simpson - is backed by bookmakers to steer the Blues to victory this afternoon.

United are 11/10 with SkyBet and SpreadEx to see off League Two's bottom side.

Slightly longer odds of 5/4 are available with Coral.

Rochdale have picked up just one point from their first six league games - a run that cost previous boss Robbie Stockdale his job.

They are 13/5 with SBK to end that winless run in Cumbria today.

The draw, meanwhile, is 12/5.

Bentley has a good record at Carlisle's ground, losing just one of his six visits to Brunton Park with his former club Morecambe.

Blues top scorer Kristian Dennis is the 5/1 favourite to get the first goal this afternoon.

And Omari Patrick, who opened the scoring in this fixture last season, is 7/1 to strike first.

The experienced Ian Henderson is 15/2 to score first for the visitors, with similar odds offered for Devante Rodney.

Former Carlisle loan midfielder Connor Malley, a recent Dale signing, is 18/1.

Jamie Devitt, who scored his first goal on Turesday since rejoining the Blues, is 9/2 to get another at any stage today.

Ryan Edmondson is 11/4 to find the net during the game, with Owen Moxon 5/1 to get his first Carlisle goal - while a Dennis hat-trick is 66/1.

Simpson's side, meanwhile, are 6/1 to make it back-to-back 1-0 wins at home in the league.

A more comfortable 2-0 win - a repeat of last season's score - is 9/1, while the hosts are 22/1 to end their long wait for a three-goal haul and prevail 3-0.

Rochdale are 17/2 for a 1-0 away win and 16/1 to win 2-0.

A goalless draw is 33/4, with a 1-1 draw 11/2.