Carlisle United's Paul Simpson: Why it's hard to second-guess new-look Rochdale

Carlisle United’s visitors appointed Jim Bentley as their new boss this week.

And Simpson says predicting how League Two’s bottom club will set up at Brunton Park is not easy.

“In terms of our preparation, it’s really difficult to know exactly what they will do,” he said.

“They’ve played with a back three in all the time with Robbie Stockdale this season, then changed to go with a 4-2-3-1 the other night at Accrington and scored three goals and were probably unfortunate to concede that last goal in 94-95th minute.

“We’re expecting them to go with that shape but we really don’t know.

“But I think this is where the value comes in of us talking about us doing 90 per cent of the preparation about us, and ten per cent on them.

“If we’re right and we have our shape right and our style right, we should be ok regardless of what they do.”

Rochdale have picked up just one point from six league games heading into tomorrow’s contest in Cumbria.

Bentley bolstered his attack on transfer deadline day with the loan signing of Stockport County’s ex-Barrow frontman Scott Quigley.

Scott Quigley joined Rochdale on deadline day (photo: PA)

The visitors, who also have former United loan midfielder Connor Malley, will be seeking a new-manager bounce in former Morecambe man Bentley’s first league game at the helm.

Simpson said of Rochdale’s poor league form: “It’s a daft one because I always look at it [and think that] when a team goes on a long run of defeats, they’re always one game closer to their first win.

“I’m disappointed a manager loses his job, and disappointed they’ve done it before our game because you know they’re going to get a bit of a reaction.”

On tomorrow’s opposite number Bentley, Carlisle’s manager added: “I have come across him quite a few times, as opposition managers.

“I also came across him a bit at AFC Fylde because my son [Jake] was working as the strength and conditioning coach there.

“I had a few conversations with him and he’s a really good football bloke.

“He’s had his own health issues that thankfully he’s got over now [Bentley had heart bypass surgery in 2020] and seems to be ok.

“I think he’s a really good appointment for Rochdale. He knows the league and area well, and I’m quite sure he’ll get his players fired up and he certainly won’t want to be languishing at the bottom of the table.

“He’ll want to get out of those positions as quickly as possible. The way Jim prepares his teams and gets them up for games, it’s a likeness to how he was as a player, which was a very uncompromising defender, difficult to play against.

“That’s what we’ll probably face against Rochdale this weekend.”

Stockdale was the first managerial casualty of the season, with the Rochdale hierarchy sacking the head coach after just four league games.

“I’m not saying it’s ok, but it’s unfortunately part and parcel of our job, it’s what goes with the territory,” Simpson added of such quickfire dismissals.

“You’ve just got to try and do the things right, make as many decisions as you possibly can right, hope you get some luck along the way, and just try and stay in it as long as you can.

“I know I’m going to get the sack one day. I don’t lose sleep over it. I do believe I’m trying to do what I think is the right things.

“I’m not saying I always do get it right but I’m trying to do the right things.

“I think I’m really fortunate I’m at a club that trusts me and trusts the decision I’m making. I just hope that trust stays for a long time and I just see the job through to get to the medium and long plan I want for the place.”