Last updated 13:48, Tuesday, 07 October 2008

CARLISLE United aren’t the only team desperately chasing a change of fortune at Spotland tonight.

Adam Rundle: The Rochdale winger played 25 games for Carlisle United before moving to Spotland in 2004

Rochdale stagger into the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy second round tie after an abysmal home fefeat of their own on Saturday, when they were beaten 2-0 by Dagenham & Redbridge.

It led Dale manager Keith Hill to brand the display as the worst of his two-year reign. “Those kind of performances, when players one to 11 do not perform, get managers the sack,” he stormed.

“It was not a Keith Hill performance and to get a performance like that after nine games simply stinks.

“It was the worst we've played in the 79 league games I've been incharge.

“The players will tell me whether they want to play for me when we take on Carlisle.”

Saturday’s defeat left them 12th in the basement division and with some ground to make up on the frontrunners, after last season’s play-off final defeat to Stockport.

Like John Ward, Hill is planning changes tonight although competition rules prevent him from making wholesale alterations.

Assistant manager Dave Flitcroft said: “Carlisle are an excellent footballing team with superb players, and you hope that our players raise their game and mental state and put in the type of performance that we all know they are capable of.

Striker Chris Dagnall could step up to the starting line-up which is likely to include former United winger Adam Rundle.