PHIL Parkinson has urged Wanderers to show respect against Rochdale, or risk another upset.

Keith Hill’s Dale wrecked an unbeaten start back in September with a defeat witnessed by more than 3,000 travelling Whites supporters.

Lancashire pride is at stake once again tonight – but Parkinson admits his side cannot afford to make the same mistakes they did at Spotland if they are to get a measure of revenge.

“We had chances to win that game but was the performance everything it needed to be? Probably not,” said the manager, who could be without Chris Long because of a hamstring injury tonight. “We need to approach this like we did the Scunthorpe game on New Year’s Eve.

“Everyone is looking at them and saying ‘little old Scunthorpe, how can they be where they are?’ But they are top of the league.

“Burton did the same last year. No-one set up to beat Burton, everyone thought they could go there and dictate what the game would be. Every week they got results.

“Rochdale might not be a big club but they are a good team. This is a top six clash and I fancy them to stay there.

“Forget the name, forget the fact it’s a Lancashire derby, if those players had a Sheffield United shirt on we’d be having a very different sort of conversation.

“We have to make sure we don’t get lulled into that attitude.”

Parkinson was full of praise for his opposite number, Bolton-born Hill, who has kept Dale in the promotion chase against the odds in League One this season.

“It’s a Lancashire derby, but against Rochdale you have to be willing to run your guts out,” he said. “Keith Hill has done a tremendous job there and we have to match his team every step of the way.

“Tactics are important but it’s about how you implement it – have you got the desire, the commitment, the grit to get the result? We cannot get out-fought and that will be crucial against a physical team.”