JUST 21 miles – and the Pennines – separate Huddersfield and Rochdale, but the Lancastrians make only their 10th visit to Town tonight.

And they come chasing a first-ever league victory at Leeds Road or the Galpharm, although they did clinch a 1-0 win in a League Cup first-round tie at the stadium back in August 2001.

And combined with 1-1 draws in both meetings in 2003-04, when Town won promotion from what is now League II, and Dale’s 3-0 success at Spotland in September, it means the visitors haven’t been beaten in four derby meetings.

The last time Town triumphed over Rochdale, in fact, was in December 1991, when Iwan Roberts and Iffy Onuora counted in a 2-1 FA Cup second-round win at Spotland.

Town have twice gone nap in their seven home league games with Dale.

Dave Sutton, Dave Cowling, Peter Fletcher, Malcolm Brown and Ian Robins registered in a 5-1 win during the 1979-80 Fourth Division title winning campaign.

And back in 1973-74, two apiece from Jimmy Lawson and Alan Gowling and one by Phil Summerill sealed a 5-0 success in the original Third Division (now League I).

Town’s other three home wins over Dale were 2-1 in 1976-77, 3-1 in 1977-78 and 1-0 in 1979-80, while there was a 0-0 draw in 1975-76.