Football: Rochdale 0 - 0 Blackpool

Rochdale's goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was named man of the match

Rochdale held league leaders Blackpool to a draw in a high energy game that created few clear cut opportunities. The visitors had the best of the chances; Armand Gnanduillet left frustrated by a super first half stop from Robert Sanchez deep into stoppage time at the end of the game. A cross from the left looped up with the ball somehow bouncing along the goal line and off the far post before being cleared.

After an exhausting game against Sunderland in midweek, the Dale manager made just one change to the starting line-up with Jimmy Ryan making his first start for  the club since joining in the summer from this afternoon’s opponents Blackpool.

The opening 45 minutes saw very little goal mouth action. Gnanduillet heading over from close range with his first effort before bringing out the best in Sanchez with his second four minutes later. Jay Spearing’s corner from the right was powered at goal by the head of the Frenchman with Sanchez somehow clawing the ball over the bar. The save bringing about high fives from the Dale players whilst Gnanduillet himself shook hands with the stopper.

At the start of the second half, Brian Barry-Murphy replaced Jimmy Ryan with Rekeil Pyke with the on loan Huddersfield striker getting a good chance with almost his first touch. A perfect through ball picked out Pyke who just couldn’t settle and the chance was smothered out by Former Dale defender Ryan Edwards.

Callum Camps came close to netting his 4th of the season when he made space to fire a dipping left footed shot that beat Jak Alnwick in Blackpool’s goal but not the crossbar as it sailed narrowly over.

Ian Henderson shot wide of the left-hand post after Camps’ free kick made its way through to him whilst at the other end Jordan Thompson perhaps should have scored for the visitors. The 6’4” frame of Gnanduillet caused Dale problems all game and when his knock down picked out Thompson, the Northern Ireland international swept a shot straight at Sanchez that had it gone either side would surely have ended up in the back of the net.

The closest either side came to breaking the deadlock was in the 4th minute of time added on. James Husband’s cross from the left-hand side of the area looped up off Matheson which caused problems behind him in front of goal. O’Connell and Sanchez both missed the ball and as it bounced along the goal line, the Dale fans were happy to see it hit the post before Norrington-Davies smashed it clear.

It was a tough, tight game between two sides wanting to play football in very warm conditions. The point sees Dale move onto 6 points from 5 games after a difficult run of games.

Rochdale: Sanchez, Matheson, O’Connell, McNulty, Norrington-Davies, MJ Williams, Rathbone (Andrew 62), Dooley (Done 68), Ryan (Pyke 46), Henderson ©, Camps
Substitutes: (not used) Lynch, Keohane, Magloire, Morley

Blackpool: Alnwick, Tilt, Edwards, Turton, Feeney (Heneghan 90), Husband, Spearing ©, Guy, Thompson, Kaikai (Nuttall 62), Gnandduillet (Hardie 85)
Substitutes: (not used) Mafoumbi, Bushri, Pritchard, Shaw

Referee: Mr C Boyeson
Assistants: Mr R Atkin & Mr D Plowright
Fourth official: Mr B Smallwood

Attendance: 4,664 (2,014 from Blackpool)