Millwall 2 - 3 Rochdale

Millwall v Rochdale

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A stoppage time penalty by Ian Henderson earned Rochdale all three points in a pulsating game against 10 man Millwall at The Den. The Dale captain sent Jordan Archer the wrong way from 12 yards after Steven Davies was tripped inside the area.

Callum Camps had earlier swept Dale into the lead only for Millwall to level and subsequently edge in front through Aiden O’Brien and a Lee Gregory penalty. Calvin Andrew headed Dale level midway through the second half before Henderson earned Dale a first ever win away at Millwall.

London traffic meant the Rochdale team coach didn’t arrive at The Den until 50 minutes before kick off, which slightly disrupted the pre-match warm up plans.

With injuries still a problem for Rochdale manager Keith Hill, he was forced into two changes from the first win of the season against Fleetwood last week. Niall Canavan returned from suspension to replace Jim McNulty and Calvin Andrew started with Peter Vincenti missing out.

In a raucous Den atmosphere, Dale took the lead with a super Callum Camps finish. Joe Thompson perfectly picked out Camps inside the area who swept the ball into the bottom corner.

With the travelling Dale fans still celebrating, Millwall hit back straight away. A ball over the Dale back line picked out Gregory who guided the ball to O’Brien who bundled home from close range.

Millwall took the lead when referee John Brooks pointed to the spot after Canavan pushed O’Brien. Lee Gregory sent Lillis the wrong way.

The front two of Gregory and Morison for Millwall caused the Dale defence no end of problems in the first half and when veteran Morison broke through again on the stroke of half-time, the Dale boss took action. McGahey was hauled off before the half time whistle, being replaced by Joe Rafferty.

Whatever Hill said to his players at the interval certainly had the desired effect as Dale certainly looked sharper after the re-start. Second half substitutes Steven Davies and Sanmi Odelusi gave the home defence something different to contend with.

Davies forced a great save from Archer with an acrobatic effort and again troubled Archer with a downward header that had it gone either side of the keeper would have been the leveller.

Dale were certainly in the ascendency and deservedly got on level terms through Andrews header. Joe Bunney’s right wing free-kick was met by Andrew who thumped his header beyond Archer.

A big turning point was the sending off of Millwall’s Ben Thompson for a second bookable offence. The young midfielder's rash challenge on Matt Lund earned him an early bath, much to the disagreement of the home faithful.

With the man advantage, Dale started to impose themselves more and more on the game but couldn’t find the finishing touch.

Millwall did have the ball in the back of the net when substitute Onyedimna slotted home from Morison’s pass but an offside flag cut short any celebrations.

With four minutes additional time showing on the big screen, referee Brooks awarded Dale a penalty when Davies was pushed inside the box. With the home crowd jeering, Henderson sent Archer the wrong way to take maximum points for Dale and end Millwall’s run of 12 home games without defeat.

Rochdale: Lillis, Thompson (Odelusi 61), McGahey (Rafferty 45), Canavan, Bunney, Keane, Camps, Lund, Andrew, McDermott (Davies 52), Henderson (c).
Subs: (not used) Logan, Noble-Lazarus, Allen, Rathbone

Millwall: Archer, Craig (c), Romeo, Webster, Nelson, O’Brien (Worrall 26), Williams, Thompson, Ferguson (Abdou 75), Gregory (Onyedinma 86), Morison
Subs: (not used) King, Wylde, Butcher, Chesmain

Referee: Mr J Brooks
Assistants: Mr C Husband and Mr A Tranter
Fourth Official: Mr A Da Costa

Attendance: 8,143 (206 from Rochdale)