FORMER Accrington Stanley duo Matt Houldsworth and Paul Lynch will be hoping to put one over on their old side tonight.

The Rossendale United pair should turn out for Jim McCluskie's UniBond First Division newcomers against their Premier League rivals at Dark Lane.

And both will be hoping to get a win against their old club to boost their side's UniBond League Cup position.

The League Cup is still at the group stage and a win for Dale will put them level on points with Stanley.

"Matt played at Accrington as a lad and was their young player of the year at one point," said Dale manager Jim McCluskie.

"Paul Lynch was there for a short spell and both will be hoping to do well tonight."

McCluskie will be hoping his side have more luck in front of goal tonight than they did during their 4-1 defeat at Leek on Saturday.

"We played very well on Saturday but just couldn't hit the back of the net," he said.

"It was the best we have played for two or three weeks but they took their chances and we didn't."

Dale's veteran duo of Brendan O'Connell and Colin Greenall have helped bolster the side - although O'Connell is out of tonight's match with a knee injury.

"We need those types of players," said McCluskie. "They help settle things down especially now we have lost Mark Patterson." Patterson has signed for Scarborough and Dale were angry at what they considered was an illegal approach for the player.

They have yet to decide whether they will make a formal complaint to the FA.

Stanley will be without influential midfielder David Robinson, who has a knee injury, and top striker Paul Mullin is still missing for the Reds.

Stanley boss John Coleman admitted that Rossendale - who were playing in the North West Counties League 12 months ago - could be a banana skin for his side.

"I think Rossendale have done really well this season. They have come up and held their own.

"They played really well against Barrow in the FA Cup and they will certainly want to win this one with it being a local derby."

Burscough top Group Four of the UniBond League Cup but Stanley and Chorley are hot on their heels. All three clubs have six points. Radcliffe Borough are fourth with four points and Dale have three points. Marine are bottom with just one point. All clubs have played three games.

Chorley play Marine at home tonight.

The winner of each group goes through to the next round. Second place teams go through to the President's Cup and the third-placed sides go through to the Chairman's Cup.