Rochdale 0 - 1 Peterborough United

Rochdale AFC's Stuart Ashworth points to Sir Alex Ferguson sat watching in the Spotland stand

Rochdale’s first game back in League One ended in a narrow defeat against Peterborough United at Spotland Stadium. Kyle Vassell’s second half strike was enough to condemn Dale to defeat in a pulsating encounter.

Dale boss Keith Hill named youngster Scott Tanser in his starting eleven as the Blackpool born player partnered Ollie Lancashire in the heart of defence. Rhys Bennett was given the right wing berth after an impressive display in the friendly against Bury last weekend.

The opening exchanges were fairly even with both sides creating chances.

Bennett picked up on a deep Rose cross but Alnwick in The Posh goal saved well his powerful drive.

Josh Lillis had to earn his wage with a couple of fine stops. Mendez-Laing was denied by a flying save whilst Taylor was left frustrated when Lillis pulled off an instinctive save low to his right.

When Lillis was beaten the woodwork came to his rescue with Mendez-Laing holding his head in his hands.

Bennett was looking like Dale’s best attacking option but again Alnwick pulled off a fine save to deny the defender turned winger when he did a superb bit of control, turn and shot but it wasn’t rewarded.

Dale played some great football at times and went close, with eight minutes of the first hlaf left, with a flowing move down the right. Ian Henderson forced Alnwick into an unorthodox save with Donnelly on the rebound denied by the quick reactions of the keeper. Henderson picked up the loose ball and although his lob from 20 yards beat Alnwick; it didn’t beat Zakuani in front of goal.

The second half started quieter than the first with the major turning points in the game coming around the hour mark.

A perfect ball from the left boot of Tanser picked out Donnelly who’s touch was superb as he raced in at goal but when placed to shoot, the striker dragged his shot across the face of goal.

That miss proved costly for Dale as 90 seconds later, Peterborough were in front. A quickly taken free-kick on the right caught Dale napping and when a cross wasn’t dealt with, the ball was pulled back across goal towards Kyle Vassell who had the easy task of slotting home from eight yards out.

Dale pressured the visitors for the remainder of the game with Peterborough intent on wasting as much time as possible for the remaining 30 minutes. Peterborough players were going down numerous times with ‘injuries’ and when central defender Jack Baldwin did have to leave the field to receive treatment on a facial injury, the shameful tactics were even more apparent.

With Peterborough Manager, Darren Ferguson’s dad Sir Alex Ferguson sat watching in the Spotland stand, it was quite ironic that the referee added eight minutes of added time to the end of the game. Even Sir Alex, famous for his ‘Fergie time’ when manager at Old Trafford, saw the funny side as many sat around him mimicked his tapping of his watch.

Stoppage time passed without much incident, although the referee almost made a huge mistake when booking Dale captain Ollie Lancashire after a foul. The County Durham official brandished a red card before realising his mistake and quickly changing it to a yellow card; much to the relief of everybody connected with Rochdale AFC.

The end result shows a defeat for Dale but anybody who witnessed the game will take great heart from a superb performance against one of the division's so called 'big guns', and with a League Cup game against Preston North End on Tuesday, Hill is able to get the players back out onto the pitchn quickly.

Attendance: 3,613

Rochdale: Lillis, Rafferty (Bunney 78), Lancashire (c), Tanser, Rose, Lund, , Bennett, Allen (Vincenti 64), Done, Henderson, Donnelly (Andrew 65)
Subs: (Not used) Diba, Eastham, Hery, Logan

Peterborough: Alnwick, Bostwick, Baldwin, Zakuani, Ntlhe, Payne (c), Mendez-Laing (Ferdinand 84), Taylor (McEvoy 65), Anderson, Vassell (Barnett 80), Washington
Subs: (Not used) Day, Santos, Smith, McCann

Referee: Mr G Eltringham
Assistant Referees: Mr B Cropp & Mr A Greenwood
Fourth Official: Mr A Pashley