There have been too few meetings between Sheffield United and Rochdale despite only 47 miles seperating the pair with the Blades boasting a 100% win record against the Town which is perhaps more famous for it's Rugby League club. Our brief reports takes up the story of our more recent coming togethers but our first came in the old Fourth Division in 1981/92 season. United won the game at Spotland by a single goal and went onto win the return fixture at Bramall Lane by three goals to one...
4 May 1982 - Sheffield United 3 Rochdale 1
Keith Edwards grabs a brace in this Fourth Division tie as Sheffield United beat Rochdale 3-1 at Bramall Lane. The Blades moved within two points of securing promotion to the Third Division after what was considered a 'comfortable' win over lowly Dale. In reality United needed a further point to secure promotion due to superiority of goal difference and the fact that their next game to follow was at home to Peterborough United, the only team outside the top four who had a chance of making catch-up.
Eventually United would go onto beat the Posh 4-0 in a rampant game at Bramall Lane after beating the Posh by the same score-line only three weeks previous. Dale had drawn 1-1 with Bradford City three days previous but at the Lane United showed a nervousness that allowed the opposition to produce the majority of attack, without a positive result. Though the Spotland club struggled in defence with United needing little chances in front of goal to score; Neville Hamilton and Terry Dolan both went close for the visitors with long range efforts but it was the Blades who sliced open Dale within five minutes of play - Colin Morris threaded the ball through to Bob Hatton lashed his shot past keeper Graeme Crawford.
Keith Edwards netted the first of his brace on 23 minutes when Paul Richardson's cross was met by Edwards to score; Dale reduced the arrears on the stroke of half-time when a defensive mix up allowed Dave Goodwin to slip a simple ball to Barry Wellings who found the net. Five minutes into the second half United showed why they would eventually be crowned Champions of the Fourth Division when Edwards finished from close range.
10 December 2011 - Sheffield United 3 Rochdale 0
In-form striker Ched Evans scored twice as Sheffield United eased to a 3-0 win at home to Rochdale to make it five wins in a row for Danny Wilson's men. Evans opened the scoring in the 39th minute after Dale defender Stephen Jordan failed to head clear from Lecsinel Jean-Francois' ball into the area. An earlier shot from Evans was parried by David Lucas while United goalkeeper Steve Simonsen made a brave block to deny Nicky Adams. Rochdale had to make a change in goal at the end of the first half when Lucas received a blow to the head and was taken off on a spinal board after receiving lengthy treatment.
After Evans missed the target from just a few yards out while under pressure from Stephen Darby, Richard Cresswell made it 2-0 when he steered the ball in at the near post following a good cross from Jean-Francois after 57 minutes. Evans scored his eighth goal in five games with a superb 25-yard free-kick to seal the points for the Blades in the 64th minute before Simonsen kept out efforts from Harry Bunn and Gary Jones.
10 April 2012 - Rochdale 2 Sheffield United 5
Sheffield United overtook arch rivals Wednesday in the race for automatic promotion as they brushed aside lowly Rochdale 5-2 at Spotland. In a thrilling opening five minutes, Ched Evans was close to opening his account from the game's first attack when he struck a post after a clever short corner routine. But the Blades were dealt a surprise when Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro skipped away from Matthew Hill and crossed for Jason Kennedy to head the hosts in front just three minutes in.
Kevin McDonald quickly levelled the contest with a cushioned volley from the edge of the area and the Blades pulled clear with two goals in the space of three minutes midway through the first half. Evans fired them ahead with a 20-yard effort before Lee Williamson tapped into an empty net after Dave Lucas had parried another Evans strike. Evans doubled his personal tally with another clinical finish before the interval and skipper Michael Doyle claimed the fifth with a long-range shot in the 52nd minute.
Temitope Obadeyi reduced the arrears with a neat finish in the 68th minute but by that stage the contest was long since over.
| (venue) | P | W | D | L | F | A |
| SUFC | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| RFC | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
| Total | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 3 |
Results
| 16 Jan 1982 | Rochdale v Sheffield United | W | 0-1 | League Division Four |
| 04 May 1982 | Sheffield United v Rochdale | W | 3-1 | League Division Four |
| 10 Dec 2011 | Sheffield United v Rochdale | W | 3-0 | League One |
| 10 Apr 2012 | Rochdale v Sheffield United | W | 2-5 | League One |