Football: Rochdale 1 - 1 Plymouth Argyle

Date published: 25 April 2018

Rochdale moved out of the relegation zone for the first time since mid December after Ryan Delaney earned Dale a draw against play-off hopefuls Plymouth Argyle.

Delaney headed home a Bradden Inman corner just 90 seconds after Joel Grant had headed Plymouth in front.

The point, coupled with Oldham’s defeat at home to Southend, means Rochdale are now out of the bottom four on goal difference with two games remaining.

Having conceded a late equaliser against Bradford on Saturday, Rochdale needed a positive result in their penultimate home game, but coning up against a Plymouth side who had picked up 44 points from their last 23 games it wasn’t going to be easy.

Manager Keith Hill made four changes from the weekend, Scott Wiseman, Mark Kitching and Stephen Humphrys were all given starts.

Plymouth showed why they are a team in form from the first whistle as their passing and movement were too good for Dale at times as they carved open the home side time and again.

Graham Carey, the visitors leading scorer, was leading the charge but was thwarted on a number of occasions.

Josh Lillis got down well to beat away a free-kick from the corner of the area whilst the woodwork rescued Dale later in the half when Carey found space outside of the area, but his curling shot crashed back off the post.

Dale’s foray’s forward were few and far between.

Inman flashing a shot just over after good work from Wiseman down the right flank.

Carey brought about a brave block from McGahey as he tried to edge his side in front.

Callum Camps warmed the hands of Matthews with a powerful drive.

Hill made a double change at the interval with Joe Rafferty and Matty Gillam replacing Mark Kitching and Stephen Humphrys.

The changes had the desired effect as Dale looked much more threatening.

Wiseman’s pace from right full back was beginning to cause problems for Plymouth and when he sent a cross in two minutes into the second half, Camps turned his centre at goal but Matthews was equal to his effort and palmed the shot away.

With eight minutes played of the second half, Plymouth opened the scoring somewhat against the run of play. A bouncing ball to the right of the goal was hooked into the danger area by Lameiras and Grant pounced to power his header into the top right corner.

There was definitely an air of nervousness around the Crown Oil Arena but those nerves were dispelled ninety seconds later when Delaney headed his side level. The Republic of Ireland Under 21 International scoring just his second goal of the season from Inman’s corner to regain parity.

Rochdale became the aggressors as they looked to claim maximum points.

Substitute Gillam should have put his side in front on the hour mark, but the youngster fired over from six yards out.

As the clock struck towards the ninety-minute mark, Grant curled an effort narrowly wide of Lillis’ left hand post with the keeper seemingly beate.

A minute later, Jamie Ness’ deflected shot had Lillis wrong-footed, but the ball spun wide of the post.

The result see’s Dale climb upto 19^th, level on points with Walsall and Oldham but with a better goal difference.

Rochdale: Lillis, Wiseman, McGahey, Delaney, Done, Camps ©, Rathbone, Kitching (Rafferty 46), Inman, Humphrys (Gillam 46), Andrew (Davies 89)
Subs: (not used) Moore, Ntlhe, McNulty, Dobre

Plymouth: Matthews, Threlkeld, Vyner, Bradley, Sawyer, Sarcevic (Taylor-Sinclair 82), Fox, Ness, Carey, Lameiras (Ainsworth 72)(Fletcher 90+1)
Subs: (not used) Miller, Songo’o, Letheren, Rooney

Referee: Mr D Drysdale
Assistants: Mr N Barnard & Mr A Moore
Fourth Official: Mr R Wigglesworth

Attendance: 2,760 (539 from Plymouth)