Another clean sheet as Dale keep out Bolton

Photo: Jon Coluccio

Nathan Stanton helped Dale to another clean sheet

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Rochdale 0
Bolton Wanderers 0

Rochdale kept a third clean sheet in as many pre-season friendlies and this will be the one that most pleased their boss Keith Hill as the Dale backline completely nullified a Premiership attack.

At the other end Hill’s men built some fine flowing moves but couldn’t take advantage. Chris Dagnall came closest when he was presented with a one on one with Jussi Jaaskelainen but the big Fin got a strong hand on his low shot.

Jon Shaw was also presented with a great chance in the dying stages but couldn’t make contact with Tom Kennedy’s superb cross. Shaw looked downhearted as the teams came off at the final whistle. He certainly looks a confidence player and that will come as soon as he hits the back of the net.

Rochdale had by far the better of the first half but it was the Premiership side that came closest to a goal. Kevin Davies fed Kevin Nolan and he chipped the ball over the on rushing Dale keeper Sam Russell, only for Rory McArdle to arrive on cue and clear spectacularly off the line.

Other than that it was all Dale, who played some superb passing football at times. Ali Al Habsi was not tested to the extent that the home side’s football had warranted. New signing Jon Shaw had Dale’s clearest site of goal after a fine move in which Clark Keltie put two defenders on their backsides by feigning to shoot before feeding the Shaw. The striker turned well to create space in the box but he fired his shot wide with Al Habsi beaten.

All over the park Dale looked strong against what could by no means be described as a full strength Bolton side but was by no means unrecognisable, with the likes of Nolan and Davies included. Adam Rundle and Will Buckley were strong for Dale on either flank, while the Dale backline dealt quite comfortably with anything that the Trotters had to throw at them.

Other Dale opportunities came to Buckley and Adam Le Fondre but both men could only fire straight at Al Habsi.

Although it was Bolton that made the better start to the second period, having made a host of changes at the interval, Dale were presented with the clearest chance of the game when Chris Dagnall, on at half time for Le Fondre, robbed Andy O’Brian and bore down on goal. Dagnall fired low only to find Jussi Jaaskelainen on form with a superb right handed save.

At other end Russell’s blushes were spared when he spilled a low cross that zipped off the wet Spotland turf. Blerim Dzemaili was ready to fire home from the edge of the box but Dale skipper Gary Jones was on hand to produce a fine last ditch tackle to deny the young Bolton substitute.

Dagnall was proving a menace among the Bolton backline and when he got the better of Abdoulaye Meite he was in on goal again but this was further out and Meite was able to get back at him and the striker could only fire a weak volley at Jaaskelainen.

Bolton’s goalkeeper was beaten as the pace of the game started to slow. Keltie’s long range drive took a heavy deflection and the ball looped over Jaaskelainen and narrowly went over the top. The referee, to everyone’s amazement, gave a goal kick, even the Bolton players who had lined up in the box waiting for the corner.

Bolton finally showed signs that they are a Premiership outfit as the game drew to a close but Dale defended resolutely, Nathan Stanton and McArdle in particular, and if truth be told Russell was never tested. The lack of goals might be a minor worry for Keith Hill but he will certainly delighted with another clean sheet against a team of Bolton’s standing.

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