GARY Waddock admits that tomorrow’s home clash with Rochdale is the sort of the game Wanderers need to win if they hope to avoid the dreaded drop come May.

Rochdale are nearly in as much peril as the Blues, just one place and one point above them in the table.

Adding to their woes, they are without a manager after Steve Eyres was sacked in December and the club has cancelled their official supporters’ coach for tomorrow’s trip south due to lack of interest.

If ever a team was there to be had, it’s Rochdale.

Waddock said: “It’s a big game. There’s only three points at stake, but it would be a valuable three points if we could claim them.

“Beating teams around us is the key to what we want to achieve come the end of the season so these games are important.”

Rochdale could spring a surprise and announce Accrington Stanley boss John Coleman as their new manager before the weekend although Stanley said on Wednesday they had no knowledge of Dale’s interest.

But Waddock says that’s irrelevant to what his own team are trying to achieve.

He said: “If they appoint a manager their players will get a lift from that and want to impress him.

“They’ve responded from their defeat against Stevenage.

“They got a good result at Tranmere. They got a clean sheet and a valuable point away from home and they’ll be coming into the game looking to get something.

“They could look at us and think there’s an opportunity to get some points here.

“But it’s what we do and what our group of players do, and not necessarily worrying or concentrating too much on the opposition.

“Obviously we do reports on them, on their strengths and weaknesses and set plays.

“You do your homework on the opposition but we have to concentrate and make sure we perform on the day.

“It’s up to us.”

Tomorrow’s match begins a run of five at home that could be the key to their survival.

Tranmere (15th in the table– Feb 4), Yeovil (19th – Feb 14th), Hartlepool (14th –Feb 25) and Leyton Orient (17th –March 6) are all winnable games for Blues and Waddock admits it’s what they do in front of their home fans that will determine the team’s future.

He said: “Our home results will be vital. The fans at home have been excellent.

“They’ve got behind the team and we need that, especially in the situation we’re in.

“We need them to get right behind the team and if we could get a big crowd as well they could be the extra man and help us get that result we’re looking for.