Rochdale 1 - 1 Leyton Orient

Rochdale maintained their unbeaten start to 2011 with a 1-1 draw against Leyton Orient at Spotland. A Brian Barry-Murphy cross was diverted into his own net by Orient defender Terrell Forbes but Orient took a point when defender Ben Chorley headed home the equaliser against the run of play.

Dale manager Keith Hill made two changes to the side that beat Dagenham. Josh Thompson moved from midfield to left back with Scott Wiseman still suspended. Barry-Murphy got the nod in midfield, whilst loan signing from Barnsley Liam Dickinson made his full debut. Fellow loan signing Will Atkinson made the bench after missing the victory at Dagenham with a hamstring strain.

After doubts over the Spotland pitch due to the torrential rain that had fallen around Rochdale, referee Andy Haines passed the surface playable, although the sodden pitch made a good spectacle almost impossible.

The early exchanges were edged by the visiting side as they looked to get their noses in front, with Matt Spring and Scott McGleish both going close.

Keith Hill's pre match plans went out of the window s when Josh Thompson limped out of the game, being replaced by Alan Goodall who this week returned from a loan spell at Newport County.

As Dale started to stamp their mark on the game Orient were struggling with the conditions.

O’Grady curled one wide whilst Adams saw his shot deflected wide.

From the corner the ball found Kennedy whose swift return into the area was knocked down by Adams for Dawson who fired one towards the top corner but was saved on the line by the defence.

Again the visitors didn’t deal with the corner and a partial clearance dropped to Goodall who sent a volley from 20 yards agonisingly wide.

Hill's men certainly had the momentum and again went close through Adams and O’Grady but couldn’t quite breach the Orient goal.

A Barry-Murphy corner was cleared back to the Irishman who whipped the ball towards goal where defender Terrell Forbes got a touch ahead of his keeper to divert the ball into the net.

The visitors were rattled and were lucky to still have a full complement of players when Matt Spring scythed down Dale debutant Liam Dickinson on the right touchline. 

Dale were looking threatening with every move as wave after wave of Dale attack rained down on Orient's defence.

O’Grady saw a low drive saved by Jones whilst another Goodall effort was tipped away.

Dawson almost doubled Dale’s lead but his header was cleared off the line.

The pitch was certainly playing its part with the ball holding up in the standing water on the Spotland surface meaning plenty of mis-placed passes.

A Charlie Adams sliding challenge caught Nicky Adams, the Dale man came off the worst and had to be replaced by Matt Done.

The second half saw a change in personnel for the visitors with Paul-Jose Mpoku replacing Spring with the winger entering the action to get at the home sides makeshift right back.

The pattern of play didn’t really alter that much with Hill’s men bossing the game and looking like the only side likely to score.

Joe Widdowson and Chris O’Grady both had penalty appeals waved away by referee Haines, whilst O’Grady was again denied by Jones.

Jones again had to be at his best when Dickinson let fly with a dipping thunderbolt but the stopper tipped the ball over, even though the official didn’t see the touch and awarded a goal kick.

The turning point of the game came on the hour mark. Goodall was placed under severe pressure by Mpoku whilst trying to clear his lines which led to him playing the ball into his own area and with McGleish about to pounce, Lillis dropped on the ball.

Referee Haines awarding an indirect free-kick for a back pass.

With the wall on the goal line, the free kick was blocked at the expense of a corner.

From the flag kick, the Dale defence fell asleep allowing Chorley to meet the ball un-challenged to level the game.

After the equaliser Orient looked the better side and caused the home defence some nervy moments.

Alex Revell was put clean through by Cox but the striker couldn’t control whilst the same pair teamed up again with the striker hooking his effort around the post.

With the rain easing and the worries of the game being abandoned disappearing, the chances for both teams dried up, although O’Grady again forced Jones into a fine save in the dying moments when his curling effort looked to have won it for the Dale but the agility of the keeper denied him.

Speaking after the game, Keith Hill said: “The biggest loser today is the pitch. The pitch is an absolute disgrace now so whoever wanted this game on, for whatever reasons, are not looking at the long term effect that will have on our pitch.

"We have got another game Tuesday and the rugby are back at the end of the month so the biggest loser is the pitch.

"The referee had a big decision to make and he chose to go with it but I think he was heavily influenced by other people.

"I don’t think the game should have been played.

"As a spectacle, that’s not football as it should be played and all that rubbish about let’s roll our sleeves up and see how hard you are, its rubbish.

"That’s forgotten now, its history.

"As a consequence of the game being played, it was a game that if I was a supporter I would not want to watch again.

"I wouldn’t have been upset had that game been called off at half time. I was looking for the right decision, I was asked my advice and I said to the referee, be brave and make the right decision and I don’t think he did.

"I applaud the players for the effort and endeavour that they have put in but that could have been decided by a mistake.

"I think we started a bit nervy but once we settled I thought we could have gone further in front but we didn’t and then it’s down to the players to accept responsibility for the jobs they are given and one of their players gets a free header but that can be worked upon.

"Josh Thompson had to be replaced after his back went into spasm.

"Nicky Adams hurt his ankle.

"I am concerned about the pitch now, we like a good surface.

"The groundsman came up to me before the game and said that the pitch could go for the rest of the season if this game was played.”