Dale boss moves to rectify clean sheet problem

Photo: Jon Coluccio

Sam Russell's first team spot has come under pressure by Fielding's signing.

Rochdale manager Keith Hill has signed Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Frank Fielding on loan for a month in a bid to keep more clean sheets. Dale have managed just two clean sheets in the league all season and Fielding has been brought in to add competition for places for the goalkeeper's jersey.

The 20-year old shot stopper is yet to play for Blackburn's first team but, having enjoyed loan spells at Wycombe and Northampton last year, he is keen to get more games under his belt and catch the eye of new Rovers boss Sam Allardyce.

Hill told the club's official website: "We have been tracking him for two years and he had great experience last season at Wycombe. Once we knew that he was back from Northampton and available we have recruited him.

"We do now have three keepers but every Premier League club has at least three and we consider ourselves to be a Premier League club in the making. It is about competition for places. We are not keeping clean sheets and we want to rectify that."

Fielding will vie with Sam Russell for a place in the team for this Saturday's trip to Chesterfield and is looking forward to playing in some competitive fixtures.

"I had a good spell at Wycombe and we got into the play-offs during my time there," said Fielding. "Hopefully the move will be beneficial to both myself and Rochdale."

Fielding is the first player to come to Rochdale in the January transfer window but the club announced a second departure earlier today.

Striker Jon Shaw has struggled for first team appearances and has gone to Crawley Town on loan until the end of the season, while defender Marcus Holness joined Barrow for a month yesterday, joining up with former Dale defender Dave Bayliss, who is joint manager at the North West side.