JOE GARNER believes Town are ready to ensure Saturday’s setback at Swindon proves just a blip on the road to League I success.

Lee Clark’s side make a quick return to action in tonight’s eagerly-awaited all-ticket derby at Rochdale (7.45).

And while they’ll have to cope without broken-arm victim Gary Roberts and possibly Scott Arfield, Garner is confident Town can claim the points.

While Roberts sees a specialist today after fracturing his left arm at Swindon, Arfield is having intensive treatment on a calf injury.

“Saturday was a bad day, because we lost the game and also two of our key players,” said the on-loan Nottingham Forest forward.

“We’re all hoping Scott returns quickly, but Gary, who is a great player, is certain to be out for a while, and we all feel for him.”

Promoted Rochdale are enjoying their first season at League I level since 1974, having picked up 13 points from their first eight games to be sixth, two places behind Town.

They’ve never won a league game between the sides – there have been 14 in the past, the most recent in 2003-04 – but will fancy their chances tonight.

Ex-Blackburn man Garner, who played the final half hour at Swindon after replacing Alan Lee, accepts it will be tough against his home-county club.

But the 22-year-old insists Town are ready to chalk up a third win in five league trips this season – and give themselves a boost ahead of Saturday’s visit of Bristol Rovers.

“Apart from the Premier League, all the divisions are tight throughout at this stage, and League I is really competitive,” he added.

“You have to work hard for everything you get, but we think we can be up there when the end of the season comes.

“It’s a derby tonight, and we’re looking forward to it. We’ll look for the three points there, then another three on Saturday.”

Rochdale go into the game on the back of a 1-1 home draw with Plymouth, whose boss Peter Reid said: “I was pleased with how we handled them, because they are a good side.”

Colchester are the only team to have beaten Keith Hill’s men in a league game this time around, having won 2-1 at Spotland in August.

Dale have picked up three wins and two draws in the league since, and showed their ability by winning at Barnsley in the Carling Cup before giving Premier League Birmingham a test in round two.

Gary Jones got both goals in the 3-2 defeat at St Andrews and the Birkenhead-born former Barnsley and Swansea man, who is in his second spell at Spotland, leads the club goal chart on six.

Anthony Elding, signed from Crewe in the close-season to replace the Scunthorpe-bound Chris Dagnall, has three while former Oldham man Chris O’Grady and midfielder Jason Kennedy have two apiece.

So too has Craig Dawson, the 20-year-old signed by Premier League West Brom in the summer but loaned back to Dale.

Hill, a former Rochdale defender who has been at the helm since December 2006, has brought in Deane Smalley from Oldham to take his loan contingent to six, the others being Scunthorpe goalkeeper Josh Lillis, the son of former Town favourite Mark, defender Josh Thompson, a Celtic teammate of Town’s Graham Carey, and midfielders Andrew Tutte (Manchester City) and Matt Done (Hereford).