League-position context
Rochdale rank4th
Hartlepool rank11th
Rochdale points74
Hartlepool points60
Rochdale: #4 ยท 74 pts ยท GD +25
22 pts off the top 2. 10 pts above the play-off edge. 22 pts clear of the relegation zone.
Hartlepool: #11 ยท 60 pts ยท GD -3
36 pts off the top 2. 7 pts off the play-off line. 8 pts clear of the relegation zone.
14-point gap between the two sides coming into kick-off.