Middlesbrough 2 - 1 Rochdale

Rochdale went out of the EFL Cup at the second round stage against Championship side Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium last night (28 August). Despite a much improved performance, Dale couldn’t claw back the two goal deficit after the hosts netted either side of the half time interval.

Ryan Delaney gave Dale a lifeline with seven minutes left to play and despite throwing everything at their loftier hosts, veteran keeper Andy Lonergan was in inspired form to prevent any further damage and earn their passage through to the third round.

After back-to-back home defeats in the league, Hill made six changes to the starting eleven for this EFL Cup game including a debut for on loan Liverpool defender Connor Randall. Kgosi Ntlhe, Ryan Delaney, Calvin Andrew, Bradden Inman and Andy Cannon were also preferred against a Boro side with a mix of youth and experience which included a 16 year old central defender.

Dale were forced onto the back foot for the majority of the first half as the Championship side took the game to their visitors. Former Manchester United academy product Paddy McNair was causing no end of issues down the right; but his crosses although dangerous weren’t met by anybody in a red shirt.

Despite their obvious dominance, Boro didn’t really trouble Rochdale keeper Norman until the half hour mark when a defence splitting pass from on loan Everton man Mo Besic set Ashley Fletcher away but the striker was foiled by Norman.

The opening goal had a little bit of luck about it. Marcus Tavernier’s right wing cross was headed against the post by Jordan Hugill with full back Marvin Johnson reacting quickest to smash in the rebound eight minutes before the break.

The goal could have seen Dale crumble, but they reacted well. Inman making space on the left; his cross just behind Henderson who was rushing into the box.

A double change at the interval by Boro boss Tony Pulis who brought off two experienced players in Besic and Ayala; replacing them with young starlets Djed Spence and Billal Brahimi, the latter causing big problems with his pace.

Rochdale tried to force the issue in the early stages of the second half and had penalty appeals waved away with 30 seconds of the restart when Andy Cannon felt he was tripped inside the box.

Calvin Andrew used his strength moments later to create space and his shot was tipped over by Lonergan. From the corner, chaos ensued inside the Boro box and when Ryan Delaney looked to have a simple tap in, Mahmutovic somehow got a block in to deny the Irishman.

After Dale’s positive start to the second half, it was a huge blow when the hosts doubled their advantage. A challenge by debutant Randall left the Liverpool loanee in agony on the turf as Johnson had the time and space to cross; Hugill powering a header past Norman from close range for 2-0.

That goal sparked Dale into life and with Randall being replaced by Joe Rafferty and Hill giving another debut to summer signing Stephen Dooley, Dale seemed to have a little more impetus going forward.

A speculative 40 yard volley from Henderson had Lonergan sprawling to his right to scramble away the Dale captain's effort whilst Callum Camps drilled a shot across the face of goal and just the wrong side of the far post.

Half time substitute Brahimi used his pace to out strip Delaney at the other end of the field; his cross found Harry Chapman but the player who had only been on the pitch for five minutes crashed his shot off the post.

Dooley’s introduction gave the home side defence something different to worry about and when he and Rafferty linked up well down the right, the former Coleraine man crossed perfectly for Andrew, the big striker fluffing his lines when well placed in front of goal.

There were further claims for penalties as both Matty Gillam, on for Henderson (74), and then Andrew were both seemingly impeded in the same move, but referee Ben Toner waved away any appeals.

Dale did get their reward for an impressive second half when Ryan Delaney opened his account for the season late in the game. Dooley’s free-kick was headed down by Ntlhe and when Andrew’s shot was blocked, Delaney was on hand to prod home.

It was all Dale as they pushed for a leveller that would have taken the game to penalty kicks but they couldn’t find a way past Lonergan. Callum Camps was left frustrated by the 34 year old when he got down at full stretch to push away his powerful strike; Delaney on the follow up saw his shot cleared off the line and in the 90th minute Cannon was denied by a low stop from Lonergan.

Deep into stoppage time, Gillam had a glorious chance to take the game to penalties but the young striker fired over from 6 yards out when it seemed easier to score.

All in all, a much better performance from Rochdale and if they can take that second half performance into the game at Coventry on Saturday, then they will be hopeful of gaining a result against the Sky Blues.

 

Rochdale: Norman, Randall (Rafferty 57), McGahey, MJ Williams, Delaney, Ntlhe, Camps, Cannon, Inman (Dooley 62), Henderson © (Gillam 74), Andrew
Subs: (not used) Moore, J Williams, Rathbone, Adshead

Middlesbrough: Lonergan, Mahmutovic, Ayala (Spence 46), Wood, Johnson, Leadbitter ©, McNair, Besic (Brahimi 46), Fletcher, Hugill (Chapman 59), Tavernier
Subs: (not used) Dimi, Liddle, Malley, Walker

Referee: Mr B Toner
Assistants: Mr I Dudley & Mr D Street
Fourth Official: Mr S Stockbridge

Attendance: 10,344 (271 from Rochdale)