Blackpool 0 - 0 Rochdale

Ian Henderson came closest to scoring against Blackpool

Rochdale battled hard to earn a point on warm September evening in Blackpool; the first side to take anything from Bloomfield Road this season. Josh Lillis saved well in the first half from Sessi D’Almeida whilst defender Curtis Tilt should have done better with a free header from a corner. Dale improved as an attacking threat after the break and went close through Ian Henderson and Ollie Rathbone with home keeper Ryan Allsop pulling off a superb save late on to tip away what looked a certain goal.

After the demolition of Gillingham on Saturday, Dale came into this fixture full of confidence against a side that had won their previous eight games at home. Dale boss Keith Hill made two changes from the weekend; Donervon Daniels and Jordan Williams were preferred to Joe Rafferty and Steven Davies.

The first half was low on goal mouth incidents with the only real chances falling for the home side. Harrison McGahey was caught in possession with the lively D’Almeida racing through at goal. Lillis was out quickly to block although the loose ball cannoned off two defenders and spun out for a corner.

Eight minutes later, Blackpool should have taken the lead. Jimmy Ryan’s right wing corner was perfect for Tilt who, unchallenged, powered a header over the bar from 6 yards out.

Calvin Andrew was introduced just short of the hour mark with the big striker giving the home defence a different problem to deal with. His presence up front allowed Henderson and Rathbone to break into the box; both seeing shots deflected wide of the upright.

Curtis Tilt had to be alert to head a Joe Bunney ball out from underneath his own crossbar as Dale looked the more likely to score.

With the clock ticking down, Henderson was denied by a wonderful save. Some neat build up play saw the Dale captain unmarked on the edge of the area and when he sent a perfect shot towards the top left hand corner, Allsop somehow managed to claw the ball away whilst at full stretch. From the resulting corner, Andrew crossed for Davies but the substitute got too much on his header and it flashed over the bar.

On loan Newcastle midfielder Sean Longstaff tried an audacious free-kick from fully 50 yards as he saw Lillis off his line; thankfully his effort was just off target.

In the end it was a good battling point against a side that have started life well in League One after promotion via the playoffs last season.

Rochdale: Lillis, Daniels, McGahey, McNulty, Bunney, MJ Williams, Camps, Rathbone (Davies 83), Williams (Andrew 58), Inman (Done 80), Henderson (c).
Subs: (not used) Moore, Rafferty, Ntlhe, Slew

Blackpool: Allsop, Turton, Robertson, Tilt, D’Almeida (Mellor 88), Ryan (Aimson 80), Longstaff, Solomon-Otabor, Cooke (Delfouneso 73), Vassell.
Subs: (not used) Williams, Taylor, Clayton, Quigley.

Referee: Mr D Webb
Assistants: Mr G Fyvie & Mr K Mulraine
Fourth Official: Mr A Clayton

Attendance: 3,399