Rochdale 2 - 0 Sheffield United

Rochdale v Sheffield United

Grant Holt scored his first goal since returning to Spotland as Rochdale earned a first ever win over Sheffield United. Holt, on as a half-time substitute, drilled home a Michael Rose corner with nine minutes left to secure the points after fellow substitute Peter Vincenti opened the scoring with a curling finish.

Josh Lillis had to be at his best in the first half to deny the Sheffield onslaught before Rochdale side edged in front.

In front of a large contingent from Yorkshire, Sheffield United took the game to Rochdale from the start, looking sharper and quicker in the tackle, with Dale struggling to keep the ball for any length of time.

Dale keeper Josh Lillis had to react quickly to a first time snap shot from Florent Culvelier - Lillis pushing the ball over the bar. From the resultant corner, Joe Bunney, back helping defend, diverted the ball against his own post before Rose cleared.

Lillis denied Che Adams when the striker sent a curling shot towards the top corner.

A McNulty mistake towards the end of the half saw Adams through again - Lillis equal once again to the striker's effort.

Rochdale manager, Keith Hill, made a double change at the interval with Peter Vincenti and Grant Holt replacing Joe Bunney and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, and the duo made an immediate impact.

There was more hold up play from the strikers, which allowed Dale to hold on to possession more giving the defence a breather from the Sheffield attack.

An Ashley Eastham clearance hit Billy Sharp and fell kindly to Adams, but Lillis was once again quickly out to block.

Dale took the lead on 67 minutes with a delightfully worked goal. Jim McNulty slid a pass down the line which Holt turned brilliantly around the corner to Henderson. The captain then played in Vincenti who took a couple of touches before curling an unstoppable strike around Long and into the bottom corner.

Sheffield almost drew level from the kick-off, Adams’ shot into the ground almost caught Lillis out but the stopper held firm.

Dale were pressing and looked the more likely to score as Matt Lund drove a shot wide.

The fairytale became reality as Grant Holt netted his first goal since his return. The big striker slid in to half volley a Michael Rose corner into the roof of the net to send the Dale fans into absolute rapturous applause.

Holt's experience helped see out the game as he frustrated the Sheffield players and fans alike by playing keep ball for the whole of stoppage time and helping earn an historic three points Dale.

The travelling support, unhappy at what they had seen, took their frustrations out on the Spotland pitch covers which were hauled into the away stand, which led to some ugly scenes involving stewards and the police.

After the win on Tuesday against Fleetwood, the Spotland faithful celebrated back-to-back wins for the first time since the opening week of the season, and although not mathematically safe, can begin to enjoy the remainder of the season without fear of a relegation battle.

Attendance: 4,210

Rochdale: Lillis, Rafferty, Eastham, Canavan, McNulty, Rose, Lund (Bennett 90), Allen, Mendez-Laing (Vincenti 46), Bunney (Holt 46), Henderson (c)
Subs: (not used) Collis, Camps, Alessandra, Noble-Lazarus

Sheffield: Long, Brayford, Basham, Edgar, McEveley (c), Woolford (Done 32), Flynn (Scougall 75), Culvelier (Coutts 75), Reed, Adams, Sharp
Subs: (not used) Howard, Collins, Campbell-Ryce, Calvert-Lewin

Referee: Mr M Heywood
Assistants: Mr S Barrow and Mr D Ford
Fourth Official: Mr M Edwards