Dale Pillage Pirates for First Win in Four

Bristol Rovers 1 - 2 Rochdale

A poor game at the Memorial Stadium saw Rochdale end their three game losing streak thanks to an improved second half display. Rochdale secured the points with a 2-1 win thanks to Blair Sturrock’s sixty-fifth minute strike. A dull first half offered a goal for each side but Rochdale finally got into gear in the second half whilst Bristol remained in neutral. The home side improved at the death when they laid siege to the Rochdale goal but without reward as the Pirates failed to capture any plunder.

Steve Parkin made a surprising alteration to the squad ahead of the game by replacing Rickie Lambert with the match-winner Sturrock. Lambert’s performances have been below par of late and the Rochdale manager saw fit to replace him with Sturrock, whose opportunities have been limited in recent weeks. Sturrock certainly took his chance with both hands by winning the game for the visitors and it will be interesting to see if Lambert can force his way back into the side for next weekend’s game against Chester. Meanwhile Lee Cartwright was also drafted into the squad due an injury to Warren Goodhind forcing Jamie Clarke back into the vacated right back berth. Cartwright’s inclusion would also prove influential as he assisted both Rochdale goals.

The home side had marginally the better of the play in the opening stages as Rochdale struggled to get going, clearly showing the lack of confidence of team that has lost its last three matches. However, whilst the home side had the majority of the ball they struggled to do much with it as moves broke down before Matthew Gilks could be tested in the Rochdale goal. Any attempts that did find the target were weak and were fired more in hope than expectation. Whilst Bristol failed to provide for the attackers Rochdale failed to provide any form of football with passes going astray and they struggled for a foothold in the game, fortunately they were up against poor opposition.

Junior Agogo was proving to be typically troublesome in the Bristol Rovers front-line and Rochdale struggled to keep up with his pace and hard work; his first attempt on goal was well blocked by Tony Gallimore. Richard Walker then headed clean over the bar from close range after Matthew Gilks’ poor kick found Leary and he whipped in a dangerous cross that Walker should have done more with.

Although Bristol Rovers looked dangerous down the flanks thanks mainly to the space afforded to their wingers they continued to lack a cutting edge and could not produce a cross that Agogo or the impressive Walker could put to good effect. However this was not required on one occasion when Rochdale almost paid the ultimate price for their inability to find a man in a yellow shirt with a simple pass. Gary Jones gave the ball straight to Walker on the edge of the box and McArdle, who was again strong at the back for the visitors, fortuitously blocked his shot. Rochdale’s struggles were again exploited when Cooksey gave the ball straight to Agogo in the penalty area after Rochdale seemed to take an age and eventually failed all together to clear their lines. It looked as though Cooksey would pay the ultimate price for his mistake but Agogo failed to even trouble Gilks as he fired over the bar from close range.

With their first meaningful attack of the game Rochdale took the lead, much against the run of play. On the half hour mark Lee Cartwright chased down what was seemingly a lost cause but with defenders napping and Shearer slow to come off his line, Cartwright gained possession in the Bristol area. The midfielder knocked the ball away from the oncoming keeper and subsequently went down under Shearer’s challenge and penalty had to be awarded. Grant Holt did what he does best and despatched the ball with ease to give Rochdale the lead.

Rochdale had chance to bask in their undeserved lead for four minutes before Bristol decided that it would be quite easy to equalise against a side too busy enjoying their lead to take part in any meaningful form of defence; Bristol swept forward and the Dale defenders could not get near the ball until the time came to pick it from their goal after Agogo had slipped it past Gilks when he was put through. Bristol continued to press and ended the half the stronger side, forcing a good save from Gilks in the dying moments after Ryan’s shot was deflected off Cooksey.

Dale fans were left to reflect on a poor first half performance, which went relatively unpunished, but they soon had more to cheer about in the second half as Rochdale finally put their recent performances behind them and realised that they were capable of getting something from the game. They showed more confidence and conviction and slowly began to get the upper hand in the game, culminating in a period of pressure in which they looked sure to score, and eventually they did.

Two excellent chances were squandered in a single move before the goal finally came. Rochdale’s best move the game by some considerable margin involved Jones, Goodall and the hard-working Holt in releasing Sturrock through on goal. Sturrock should have finished but his shot was too close to Shearer who parried, only for the ball to fall to Cartwright who somehow fired over the open goal from the edge of the area. Bristol, however, did not pay attention to the warning signs and Rochdale continued to attack and finally scored the goal that would win them the game. Sturrock and Cartwright both atoned for their misses as Cartwright produced a superb deep cross which alluded all apart from Sturrock at the far post and he finished whilst Shearer was still scrambling in vein across his goal.

The next fifteen minutes passed with little action, although Holt could have gained another penalty when he was pole axed by Shearer whose punch on the ball was deemed fair by Singh despite the keeper kneeing Holt in the back and connecting with his shoulder in the process. Holt was withdrawn from the action as he was clearly shaken by the challenge. With time running out Rochdale’s goal was coming under increasing pressure but some strong defending and some good luck saw them through, in Bristol Rover’s final attack Gilks saved from Agogo when he was clean through and should have scored.

This was far from Rochdale’s most convincing win of the season but it was their most essential as it ended their run of defeats and gives them a springboard going into what could be a difficult run of matches leading up to Christmas. The game also showed that players such as Cartwright and Strurrock are capable of doing a job when called upon and that will keep the rest of the squad on their toes and hopefully draw some improved displays out of Rickie Lambert, who now knows that his place in the side is no longer guaranteed.