Wigan Athletic 1 - 0 Rochdale

Over 1,300 Dale fans travelled to watch Wigan v Rochdale

Ten man Rochdale’s resilience was finally broken with a scrappy goal by promotion chasing Wigan Athletic. Substitute Conor McAleny bundled home from close range to earn Wigan the three points after Dale skipper Ian Henderson was sent off for the second time in two games. Henderson appeared to kick out after a bad challenge by Wigan’s Jason Pearce with the Dale man being shown a straight red card; Pearce only receiving a yellow.

Having sat out the Good Friday win over Southend due to suspension, Ian Henderson returned to the starting line-up with Grant Holt dropping to the bench against his former club.

Wigan, aiming for automatic promotion and an immediate return to the Championship, went into the game favourites, especially on the back of a 17 game unbeaten run.

Dale started brightly without troubling Jussi Jaaskelainen in the Wigan goal as they probed for an opening.

Wigan started to impose themselves on the game as the first half wore on, Ryan Colclough fired over from 12 yards whilst Ashley Eastham bravely blocked Yanic Wildschut’s powerful shot.

One or two ‘tasty’ challenges went unpunished from referee Mark Brown, which led to a passage of play that saw Henderson sent off. A rash challenge by former Dale man David Perkins on Joe Rafferty brought about appeals for a free-kick but just seconds later, Jason Pearce scythed down Henderson, which did result in a Dale free-kick. With Henderson lay prone, the Dale skipper appeared to kick out at Pearce, which saw the home fans incensed. The referee, after consulting his fourth official, then brandished a red card for Henderson whilst only showing a yellow to Pearce for the initial challenge.

Wigan started pressing for a win and Eastham was again brave blocking Colclough’s effort.

Perkins’ dangerous centre only needed a touch from Will Grigg but the striker couldn’t stretch enough to convert.

The initial part of second half was like a training game of attackers versus defenders as Dale looked to hold onto the point they had but started to come under immense pressure.

Eastham again stood strong to beat away Power when the striker was played through on goal.

Lillis had to watch a dipping shot to again deny Power.

Lillis was without doubt Dale’s man-of-the-match, firstly saving well from McAleny then minutes later a volley from Vuckic.

The pressure eventually proved too much and after an initial shot deflected up off the bar, Wildschut reacted quickest to put the ball back into the danger area with McAleny scrambling the ball over the line.

Keith Hill didn’t want to settle for a 1-0 defeat and having already sent on Peter Vincenti and Grant Holt, also put another striker in Joe Bunney on to try and get something from the game.

Within seconds of Bunney being on the pitch he had big claims for a penalty waived away by referee Brown after he appeared to be pulled back inside the box.

In the end, Dale fell just short of what would have been a remarkable result, but the performance pleased the Rochdale manager who will now be without his leading scorer and captain Ian Henderson for four matches after his dismissal.

Attendance: 10,407 (1,301 from Rochdale)

Rochdale: Lillis, Rafferty, Eastham, Canavan, McNulty, Rose, Allen, Camps (Bunney 71), Mendez-Laing (Vincenti 57), McDermott (Holt 61) Henderson (c)
Subs: (not used) Collis, Lancashire, Cannon, Syers

Wigan: Jaaskelainen, Wabara, Morgan (c), Pearce (Vuckic 55), Warnock, Perkins, Power, Morsy (McCann 74), Wildschut, Grigg, Colclough (McAleny 46)
Subs: (not used) Nicholls, Daniels, Davies, Chow

Referee: Mr M Brown
Assistants: Mr T Nield and Mr M Denton
Fourth Official: Mr C Sarginson